High efficiency electromagnetic beam projector, and systems and methods for implementation thereof

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to electromagnetic wave beam paths, formation of the beam, illumination of programmable electromagnetic wave field vector orientation rotating devices (“PEMFVORD”) with an electromagnetic beam, and the technique of projection of the modulated beam. This invention also relates to a unique light path and method of forming the light into a rectangular beam to be used for optical projection systems and, more particularly, in a color and/or black and white liquid crystal device (LCD) projectors that produce high resolution, high brightness and/or three-dimensional images. This invention further relates to a device capable of receiving and displaying two-dimensional and three dimensional images.

RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/719,933 filed on Nov. 21, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,882,476, which isa continuation of application Ser. No. 09/821,937 filed on Mar. 30,2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,697,197, which is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 09/502,889 filed on Feb. 11, 2000, now U.S. Pat.No. 6,243,198, which is a continuation of application Ser. No.09/309,394 filed on May 10, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,034,818, which isa continuation of application Ser. No. 08/743,390 filed on Nov. 4, 1996,now U.S. Pat. No. 5,903,388, which is a continuation of application Ser.No. 08/344,899, on filed Nov. 25, 1994, now abandoned, which is acontinuation of Ser. No. 07/898,952, filed on Jun. 11, 1992, nowabandoned. These prior related applications are hereby incorporated byreference in their entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method and system for producing (i) amodulated beam of electromagnetic energy, (ii) a modulated beam of lightor ultraviolet light, (iii) a visual image for display, (iv) one or morecollinear beams of electromagnetic energy, (v) one or more collinearbeams of ultraviolet light, (vi) a modulated beam of visible light inwhich the brightness of the image increases as the distance from theprojector lens to the screen increases up to a distance of approximately10 feet, (vii) a modulated beam of light for projection of video images,(viii) a collinear beam of electromagnetic energy having two constituentparts, (ix) a collinear beam of light (or ultraviolet light) having twoconstituent parts, (x) one or more collinear beams of electromagneticenergy, (xi) one or more collinear beams of light or ultraviolet light,(xii) a substantially collimated beam of electromagnetic energy havingsubstantially the same selected predetermined orientation of a chosencomponent of electromagnetic wave field vectors and a substantiallyuniform flux intensity substantially across the beam of electromagneticenergy for use in the above method and systems, (xiii) a substantiallycollimated beam of light (or ultraviolet light) having substantially thesame selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component ofelectric field vectors and a substantially uniform flux intensitysubstantially across the beam of light for use in the above method andsystems, and (xiv) displaying an image in either two dimensions (2D) orthree dimensions 3D). This invention also relates to projection typecolor display devices and projection apparatuses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A disturbance (change in position or state of individual particles) inthe fabric of space-time causes a sphere of influence. Stated in asimplistic manner, the action of one particle influences the actions ofthe others near it. This sphere of influence is referred to as a“field”, and this field is designated as either electric or magnetic(after the way it influences other particles). The direction of travelof the particle is called the direction of propagation. The propagationof the particle, the sphere of influence, and the way it influencesother particles is called an electromagnetic wave, and is shown in FIG.1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electric and magnetic fields are orthogonal (atright angles) to each other and the direction of propagation. Thesefields can be mathematically expressed as a vector quantity (indicatingthe direction of influence along with strength, i.e., magnitude, ofinfluence) at a specific point or in a given region in space. Thus, FIG.1A is the electromagnetic wave in FIG. 1, but with the view of lookingdown the axis of propagation, that is, down the x axis of FIG. 1. FIG.1A shows some possible various electric field vectors that could exist,although it should be understood that any and all possible vectors canexist around the circle, each having different magnitudes.

Vectors can be resolved into constituent components along two axes. Thisis done for convenience sake and for generating a frame of referencethat we, as humans, can understand. By referring to FIG. 1B, it is shownthat the electric field vector E, can be resolved into two constituentcomponents, E(y) and E(x). These quantities, then, describe theorientation and the magnitude of the electric field vector along twoaxes, the x and y, although other axes or systems could be chosen. Thesame applies to magnetic fields, except that the X and Z axes would beinvolved

The ways the electric and magnetic fields vary with time in intensityand direction of propagation have been determined by several notablemathematicians and physicists, culminating in a group of basic equationsby James Maxwell. These equations, simply applied, state that a fieldvector can be of one of several different states, that is: 1) the fieldvector varies randomly over a period of time, or 2) the field vector canchange directions in a circular manner, or 3) the field vector canchange directions in a elliptical manner, or 4) the field vector canremain constant in magnitude and direction, hence, the field vector liesin one plane, and is referred to as planar.

This orientation of a field vector and the way it changes with time iscalled the state of polarization.

Electromagnetic waves can be resolved into separate electromagneticwaves with predetermined orientations of a field vector. Theelectromagnetic waves with a predetermined orientation of a field vectorcan then be directed through materials, such as a liquid crystal device,that is capable of changing (or altering) their orientation of the fieldvector upon application of an outside stimulus, as is demonstrated inFIG. 7. These devices are noted as programmable electromagnetic wavefield orientation rotating devices (PEMFVORD).

An electromagnetic wave can be characterized by its frequency orwavelength. The electromagnetic spectrum (range) extends from zero, theshort wavelength limit, to infinity, the long wavelength limit.Different wavelength areas have been given names over the years, such ascosmic rays, alpha rays, beta rays, gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet,visible light, infrared, microwaves, TV and FM radio, short wave, AM,maritime communications, etc. All of these are just short handexpressions of stating a certain range of frequencies forelectromagnetic waves.

Different areas of the spectrum interact with electromagnetic influencesupon them in various proportions, with the low end being more influencedby magnetic fields, and the high end being influenced by electricfields. Thus to contain a nuclear reaction, a magnetic field is used,while controlling light an electric field is used.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic cross section of an LCD cell. The LCDcell 100 includes a liquid crystal material 101 that is containedbetween two transparent plates 103, 104. Spacers 105, 106 are used toseparate the transparent plates 103, 104. Sealing elements 107, 108 sealthe liquid crystal material 101 between the transparent plates 103, 104.Conductive coatings 109, 110 on the transparent plates 103, 104 conductthe appropriate electrical signals to the liquid crystal material 101.

A type of liquid crystal material 101 used in most LCD cells for opticaldisplay systems is referred to as “twisted nematic.” In general, with atwisted nematic LCD cell, the molecules of an LCD cell are rotated inthe absence of a field through a 90° angle between the upper 103 andlower 104 transparent plates. When a field is applied, the molecules areuntwisted and line up in the direction of the applied field. The changein alignment of the molecules causes a change in the birefringence ofthe cell. In the homogeneous ordering, the birefringence of the cellchanges from large to small whereas the opposite occurs in thehomeotropic case. The change in birefringence causes a change in theorientation of the electric field vector for the light being passingthrough the LCD. The amount of the rotation in the molecules for anindividual LCD cell 100 will determine how much change in polarization(orientation of the electric field vector) of the light occurs for thatpixel. The light beam is then passed through another component of thesystem (i.e., polarizer analyzer) and is resolved into different beamsof light by the orientation of their electric field vectors, with thelight that has a selected predetermined component of the electric fieldvector passing through to finally strike the screen used for thedisplay.

A twisted nematic LCD cell requires the light incident at the LCD cell100 to be polarized. The polarized light for a typical projector isgenerally derived from a randomly polarized light source that iscollimated and then filtered by a plastic polarizer to provide a linearpolarized beam. Linear polarized beams are conventionally referred to asbeing S-polarized and P-polarized with the P-polarized beam defined aspolarized in a direction parallel to the plane of incidence and theS-polarized beam defined as polarized perpendicular to the plane ofincidence.

The development of PEMFVORD technology has resulted in the developmentof LCD projectors which utilize one or more LCDs to alter theorientation of the electric field vector (see FIG. 7) of the light beingprojected. The birefringence of the individual LCD pixels is selectivelyaltered by suitable apparatus such as cathode ray tubes, lasers, orelectronic circuit means. A typical liquid crystal light valve (LCLV)projector includes a source lamp which is used to generate a light beamthat is directed through a polarizer. This polarized light is directedthrough the LCDS to change the polarization according to the image to bedisplayed. The light, after exiting the LCD, passes through a plasticpolarizer analyzer which stops and absorbs the unwanted portion oflight. The formed image is then enlarged with a projection lens systemfor forming an enlarged picture on a display screen.

Color LCLV projectors typically include color separating apparatus suchas a prism, beam splitters or dichroic mirrors to separate collimatedwhite light beams from the light source into three primary color beams(i.e., red, green and blue beams). The red, green and blue beams arethen individually modulated by LCDs and combined by separate opticalapparatus such as combining prisms, mirrors or lenses.

In general, the quality and brightness of the projected image in anyLCLV projector is a function of the brightness of the source forilluminating the LCDs and the polarizing means. Polarizing optics mustbe utilized to filter/separate the white light into light with a singleorientation of the electric field vector. The white light emitted fromthe source is thus only partially utilized (i.e., one direction ofpolarization) in most LCLV projection systems. This requires oversizedlight sources to achieve a desired brightness at the viewing screen.

Typically, with a twisted nematic transmissive type LCD cell surroundedby plastic polarizers, only forty percent or less of the output of thelight source is utilized. Practically, only a maximum transmission of50% for randomly polarized light passed through could ever be achievedbecause of the construction and principles involved in plasticpolarizers, allowing for 100% efficiency for the device for allwavelengths. Thus, it is impossible to obtain a full brightnessprojector. Moreover, the unused polarized component of the light sourceis absorbed by the plastic polarizers and generates wasted energy in theform of heat and transfers this heat to other components (i.e., LCDs,electronics, etc.) and hence is detrimental to the system (especiallythe plastic polarizers, LCDs, electronics, etc.). This heat must beeither shielded and/or dissipated from the components of the system, orelse, the light source must be reduced in light output so that theamount of light being absorbed is below the threshold of permanentdamage to the components, including the plastic polarizers. Currently,this threshold for fabricated plastic polarizers is between the range of5-10 watts of light per square inch (0.78-1.55 watts per squarecentimeter), depending upon the wavelength of the illuminating light. Amethod for improving the damage threshold is included in U.S. Pat. No.5,071,234 to Amano, et al., although this patent does not discuss theparticulars of what the damage threshold is.

Prior art systems have required relatively complicated optical systemsincluding the use of polarizing prisms and prepolarizing prisms toensure a unitary or single polarization at the LCD and to provide asuitable resolution and contrast of the projected image with prior artcolor LCLV projectors, complicated optic components and arrangements arerequired to combine the separated color bands at a suitable resolutionand contrast.

Representative prior art LCLV projectors are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,060,058 to Goldenberg, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,949 to Sato, etal., U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,702 to Aruga, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,154to, Miyatake, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,658 to Tanaka, et al., U.S.Pat. No. 4,936,656 to Yamashita, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,758 toMiyatake, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,547 to Ledebuhr, U.S. Pat. No.4,909,601 to Yajima, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,904,061 to Aruga, et al.,U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,390 to McKechnie, U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,142 to Tanaka,et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,685 to Kamakura, U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,374 toLedebuhr, U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,649 to Ledebuhr, et al., U.S. Pat. No.4,826,311 to Ledebuhr, U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,146 to Ledebuhr, U.S. Pat.No. 4,772,098 to Ogawa, U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,259 to Ledebuhr, U.S. Pat.No. 4,739,396 to Hyatt, U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,526 to Ledebuhr, U.S. Pat.No. 4,687,301 to Ledebuhr, U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,286 to Koda, et al., U.S.Pat. No. 4,647,966 to Phillips, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,544,237 toGagnon, U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,172 to Gagnon, U.S. Pat. No. 4,464,019 toGagnon, U.S. Pat. No. 4,464,018 to Gagnon, U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,542 toGagnon, U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,028 to Gagnon, U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,456 toHong, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,127,322 to Jacobson, et al., U.S. Pat. No.4,588,324, to Marie, U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,155 to Cross, Jr., U.S. Pat.No. 4,936,657 to Tejima, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,123 to Takafuji,U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,336 to Morton, U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,064 to Umeda,U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,750 to Morishita, U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,210 toShimazaki, U.S. Pat. No. 4,770,525 to Umeda, et al., U.S. Pat. No.4,715,684 to Gagnon, U.S. Pat. No. 4,699,498 to Naemura, et al., U.S.Pat. No. 4,693,557 to Fergason, U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,634 to Kizaki, etal., U.S. Pat. No. 4,613,207 to Fergason, U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,889 toBuzak, U.S. Pat. No. 4,295,159 to Carollo, et al. Prior art illuminationsystems for overcoming problems with the brightness of LCD displayillumination systems have not been completely successful. Prior artillumination systems for overcoming problems with the brightness of LCDdisplay illumination systems have not been completely successful.

An example of an illumination system that attempts to utilize the fulloutput of a light source for increasing the brightness of an LCD displayis disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,028,121 to Baur, et al., In the Baursystem, the randomly polarized light source is resolved into twoseparate polarized beams, with one of the polarized beams passed to adichroic color splitter that then directs the segregated color beams toa set of reflecting LCDs, while the other beam of different polarizationis sent to a different set of LCDs through a different dichroicsplitter. After having each respective portion of the beams' electricfield vector altered, the beam is then reflected back through thedichroic mirrors into the polarizing beam splitter/combiner. The pictureto be represented is sent to the projection lens, while the rejectedbeam is sent back into the light source. This causes the light source toheat and have a shortened life span. Furthermore, each sequential fieldto be projected has a different brightness level illuminating eachpixel, depending upon the amount of light that is rejected back into thelight source.

For example, if a light source has an average output of 1000 lumens andthe sequential field to be projected has an average brightness level of30% then 700 lumens would be reflected back into the light source,making the light emitted from the source to be an effective 1700 lumens.In the next sequential field, if the average brightness level is 50%then 500 lumens would be reflected back into the light source, makingthe light emitted from the source to be effectively 1500 lumens. Thiscan be alleviated by computing the average brightness level to beprojected, and then modulating the brightness level of the light sourcewhen the field is changed for projection so that the illumination of apixel is at a constant brightness. This system can further be modifiedby (or be a stand alone system) that would monitor the light output ofthe light source and change the driving circuitry of the light source tomaintain a constant brightness level. This can be monitored by a lighttransducer that monitors the light from a beam splitter, or alternately,can be mounted directly on a LCD panel outside of the picture formingactive area. However, the addition of any of the above circuitry furthercomplicates the projector and makes the light source an active part ofthe system, increasing the cost and complexity of the projector.

Another example of an illumination system that attempts to utilize thefull output of a light source for increasing the brightness of an LCDdisplay is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,913,529 to Goldenberg, et al. Inthe Goldenberg system, a beam of light, from a light source, is splitinto two orthogonally linear polarized beams. One of the beams is thenpassed through a device that rotates one of the beams to change itsdirection of polarization so that there are two beams of the samepolarization. The beams of the same polarization are then directedthrough different faces of a prism, combined by the prism and focused onthe LCD devices.

A problem with such a system is that the beams are not collinear. Thebeams illuminate the polarizer at different angles, causing an area ofusable light, and another area of unusable light. The result is that allof the light available is not used. Another obstacle is that it isdifficult to align the combined beams with the use of a prism. Yetanother complication is that the prism tends to separate the light intoseparate colors. This detracts from the clarity, brightness and limitsthe resolution of the projected image. Still another complication isthat the performance of polarizers vary with the angle of lightilluminating them, causing different polarizations and different colorgradations to occur in the beam.

Other systems, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,214 toLedebuhr, U.S. Pat. No. 4,127,322 to Jacobson, et al., U.S. Pat. No.4,836,649 to Ledebuhr, et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 3,512,868 toGorklewiez, et al. also disclose optical layouts for achieving a highbrightness in display systems that utilize LCD devices. In general,these systems are relatively complicated and contain numerous componentsthat are large, expensive, and difficult to adjust.

Representative prior art flat fluorescent light sources are disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 4,978,888 to Anandan, et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,298to Hinotani, et al.

Representative prior art light integrators for light sources aredisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,918,583 to Kudo, et al., U.S. Pat. No.4,787,013 to Sugino, et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,769,750 to Matsumoto,et al.

Various prior art techniques and apparatus have been heretofore proposedto present 3-D or stereographic images on a viewing screen, such as on apolarization conserving motion picture screen. See U.S. Pat. No.4,955,718 to Jachimowicz, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,963,959 to Drewio,U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,422 to Ohtomo, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,959,641 toBess, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,957,351 to Shioji, U.S. Pat. No. 4,954,890to Park, U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,408 to Medina, U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,658 toTanaka, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,933,755 to Dahl, U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,336to Morton, U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,860 to Noble, U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,307 toKalmanash, U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,750 to Morishita, U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,486to Nakagawa, U.S. Pat. No. 4,853,764 to Sutter, U.S. Pat. No. 4,851,901to Iwasaki, U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,473 to Keyes, et al., U.S. Pat. No.4,807,024 to McLaurin, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,763 to Davis, U.S.Pat. No. 4,772,943 to Nakagawa, U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,246 to Nishikawa,U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,425 to Pund, U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,178 to Street, U.S.Pat. No. 4,541,007 to Nagata, U.S. Pat. No. 4,523,226 to Lipton, et al.,U.S. Pat. No. 4,376,950 to Brown, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,920 toCollendar, U.S. Pat. No. 4,295,153 to Gibson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,151,549 toBautzc, U.S. Pat. No. 3,697,675 to Beard, et al., In general, thesetechniques and apparatus involve the display of polarized or colorsequential two-dimensional images which contain corresponding right eyeand left eye perspective views of three-dimensional objects. Theseseparate images can also be displayed simultaneously in differentpolarizations or colors. Suitable eyewear, such as glasses havingdifferent polarizing or color separating coatings, permit the separateimages to be seen by one or the other eye. This type of system isrelatively expensive and complicated requiring two separate projectorsand is adapted mainly for stereoscopic movies for theaters. U.S. Pat.No. 4,954,890 to Park discloses a representative projector employing thetechnique of alternating polarization.

Another technique involves a timed sequence in which imagescorresponding to right-eye and left-eye perspectives are presented intimed sequence with the use of electronic light valves. U.S. Pat. No.4,970,486 to Nakagawa, et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,307 to Kalmanashdisclose representative prior art stereographic display systems of thistype.

While previous time sequential light valve systems are adaptable todisplay arrangements for a television set, because of problemsassociated with color, resolution and contrast of the projected image,they have not received widespread commercial acceptance. Moreover, thesystems proposed to date have also been relatively expensive andcomplicated.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of this invention is to provide a method and system forproducing a modulated beam of electromagnetic energy comprising:producing an initial beam of electromagnetic energy having apredetermined range of wavelengths and having a substantially uniformflux intensity substantially across the initial beam of electromagneticenergy; separating the initial beam of electromagnetic energy into twoor more separate beams of electromagnetic energy, each of the separatebeams of electromagnetic energy having a selected predeterminedorientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors(or, in the case of a beam of light, and a beam of ultraviolet light,electric field vector); altering the selected predetermined orientationof the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of aplurality of portions of each of the separate beams of electromagneticenergy by passing the plurality of portions of each of the separatebeams of electromagnetic energy through a respective one of a pluralityof altering means whereby the selected predetermined orientation of thechosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of theplurality of portions of each of the separate beams of electromagneticenergy is altered in response to a stimulus means by applying a signalmeans to the stimulus means in a predetermined manner as the pluralityof portions of each of the substantially separate beams ofelectromagnetic energy passes through the respective one of theplurality of means for altering the selected predetermined orientationof the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors;combining the altered separate beams of electromagnetic energy into asingle collinear beam of electromagnetic energy without substantiallychanging the altered selected predetermined orientation of the chosencomponent of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of the plurality ofportions of each of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy; andresolving from the single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy afirst resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially afirst selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component ofelectromagnetic wave field vectors and a second resolved beam ofelectromagnetic energy having substantially a second selectedpredetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wavefield vectors, whereby the first and second selected predeterminedorientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave fieldvectors are different from one another.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid for modulating a beam of light and a beam of ultravioletlight.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid in which the step of producing a beam of electromagneticenergy includes producing a beam of electromagnetic energy having arandom orientation of electromagnetic wave field vector (or, in the caseof a beam of light and a beam of ultraviolet light, electric fieldvector) and the step of separating the beam of electromagnetic energyinto two or more separate electromagnetic energy beams includesseparating said beam into said separated beams whereby each of saidseparated beams has the same orientation of electromagnetic wave fieldvector (or, in the case of a beam of light or ultraviolet light,electric field vector).

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid in which the step of producing a beam of electromagneticenergy includes the step of producing a beam of electromagnetic energyhaving the same orientation of electromagnetic wave field vector (or, inthe case of a beam of light and a beam of ultraviolet light, electricfield vector).

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid in which the step of producing a beam of electromagneticenergy includes producing a collimated beam of electromagnetic energy.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid in which the step of producing a beam of electromagneticenergy includes producing a rectangular beam of electromagnetic energy.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid including the step of passing one of said segregated beams ofelectromagnetic energy to a projection means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid including the step of adjusting the electromagnetic energybeams of at least one of separated beams. The step of adjusting theelectromagnetic energy may be accomplished by adjusting the wavelengthsand/or intensity of at least one of the separated beams.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid in which the step of separating a beam of electromagneticenergy includes separating the beam of electromagnetic energy into twoor more separate electromagnetic energy beams, each separated beamhaving a different electromagnetic energy spectrum.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid in which the step for separating the initial beam ofelectromagnetic energy into two or more separate beams ofelectromagnetic energy further includes the step of separating theinitial beam of electromagnetic energy into two or more separate beamsof electromagnetic energy with each of the separate beams ofelectromagnetic energy having a predetermined range of wavelengthsdifferent from each of the other separate beams of electromagneticenergy.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system ofproducing a modulated beam of electromagnetic energy, comprising:providing a substantially collimated primary beam of electromagneticenergy having a predetermined range of wavelengths; resolving from thesubstantially collimated primary beam of electromagnetic energy asubstantially collimated primary first resolved beam of electromagneticenergy having substantially a first selected predetermined orientationof a chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors (or inthe case of a beam of light and a beam of ultraviolet light, electricfield vector) and a substantially collimated primary second resolvedbeam of electromagnetic energy having substantially a second selectedpredetermined orientation of a chosen component of the electromagneticwave field vectors, whereby the first and second selected predeterminedorientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave fieldvectors are different from one another; forming from the substantiallycollimated primary first resolved beam of electromagnetic energy and thesubstantially collimated primary second resolved beam of electromagneticenergy a substantially collimated initial beam of electromagnetic energyhaving substantially the same selected predetermined orientation of achosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors substantiallyacross the substantially collimated initial beam of electromagneticenergy and a substantially uniform flux intensity substantially acrossthe substantially collimated initial beam of electromagnetic energy;separating the substantially collimated initial beam of electromagneticenergy into two or more substantially collimated separate beams ofelectromagnetic energy, each of the substantially collimated separatebeams of electromagnetic energy having a selected predeterminedorientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors;altering the selected predetermined orientation of the chosen componentof the electromagnetic wave field vectors of a plurality of portions ofeach of the substantially collimated separate beams of electromagneticenergy by passing the plurality of portions of each of the substantiallycollimated separate beams of electromagnetic energy through a respectiveone of a plurality of altering means whereby the selected predeterminedorientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave fieldvectors of the plurality of portions of each of the substantiallycollimated separate beams of electromagnetic energy is altered inresponse to a stimulus means by applying a signal means to the stimulusmeans in a predetermined manner as the plurality of portions of each ofthe substantially collimated separate beams of electromagnetic energypasses through the respective one of the plurality of means for alteringthe selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors; combining the substantiallycollimated altered separate beams of electromagnetic energy into asubstantially collimated single collinear beam of electromagnetic energywithout substantially changing the altered selected predeterminedorientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave fieldvectors of the plurality of portions of each of the substantiallycollimated separate beams of electromagnetic energy; and resolving fromthe substantially collimated single collinear beam of electromagneticenergy a substantially collimated first resolved beam of electromagneticenergy having substantially a first selected predetermined orientationof a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors and asubstantially collimated second resolved beam of electromagnetic energyhaving substantially a second selected predetermined orientation of achosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors, whereby thefirst and second selected predetermined orientation of the chosencomponent of the electromagnetic wave field vectors are different fromone another.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid for producing a modulated beam of light and a beam ofultraviolet light.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid in which the step of separating includes separating thesubstantially collimated initial beam of electromagnetic energy into twoor more substantially collimated separate beams of electromagneticenergy whereby each of the substantially collimated separate beams ofelectromagnetic energy has substantially the same selected predeterminedorientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave fieldvectors substantially across each of the substantially collimatedseparate beams of electromagnetic energy as that of the othersubstantially collimated separate beams of electromagnetic energy.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid in which the step of forming includes forming thesubstantially collimated initial beam of electromagnetic energy furtherhaving a rectangular cross-sectional area.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid further comprising the step of passing one of thesubstantially collimated resolved beams of electromagnetic energy to aprojection means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid further comprising the step of adjusting the electromagneticspectrum of at least one of the substantially collimated separate beamsof electromagnetic energy.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of adjusting the electromagnetic spectrum ofat least one of the substantially collimated separate beams ofelectromagnetic energy includes adjusting a predetermined range ofwavelengths of at least one of the substantially collimated separatebeams of electromagnetic energy. The step of adjusting theelectromagnetic energy may be accomplished by adjusting the wavelengthsand/or intensity of at least one of the separated beams.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of separating includes separating thesubstantially collimated initial beam of electromagnetic energy into twoor more substantially collimated separate beams of electromagneticenergy whereby each of the substantially collimated separate beams ofelectromagnetic energy has a substantially different selectedpredetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electromagneticwave field vectors substantially across each of the substantiallycollimated separate beams of electromagnetic energy from that of theother substantially collimated separate beams of electromagnetic energy.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid further comprising the step of passing one of thesubstantially collimated primary resolved beams of electromagneticenergy through a means for changing the selected predeterminedorientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave fieldvectors.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of passing one of the substantiallycollimated primary resolved beams of electromagnetic energy through ameans for changing the selected predetermined orientation of the chosencomponent of the electromagnetic wave field vectors includes passing oneof the substantially collimated primary resolved beams ofelectromagnetic energy through a liquid crystal device for changing theselected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid further comprising the step of passing one of thesubstantially collimated primary resolved beams of electromagneticenergy through a means for changing a selected predetermined orientationof a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors and changingthe selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors of one of the substantiallycollimated primary resolved beam of electromagnetic energy to matchsubstantially the selected predetermined orientation of the chosencomponent of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of the othersubstantially collimated primary resolved beam of electromagneticenergy.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of forming further comprises the step ofproviding one or more reflecting means, each of the reflecting meanshaving means for changing the selected predetermined orientation of thechosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors, andreflecting one of the substantially collimated primary resolved beams ofelectromagnetic energy from one or more of the reflecting means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of providing one or more reflecting means,each of the reflecting means including one or more planar reflectingsurface with a dielectric coating, each planar reflecting surface with adielectric coating having means for changing the selected predeterminedorientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave fieldvectors, and reflecting one of the substantially collimated primaryresolved beams of electromagnetic energy from one or more of the planarreflecting surfaces with a dielectric coating.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of providing one or more reflecting means,each of the reflecting means including a mirror having a thin filmdielectric material, each mirror having a thin film dielectric materialhaving means for changing the selected predetermined orientation of thechosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors, andreflecting one of the substantially collimated primary resolved beams ofelectromagnetic energy from one or more of the mirrors having a thinfilm dielectric material.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of providing a substantially collimatedprimary beam of electromagnetic energy further having a substantiallyuniform flux intensity across substantially the entire primary beam ofelectromagnetic energy.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid further comprising the step of removing from at least one ofthe beams of electromagnetic energy at least a predetermined portion ofa predetermined range of wavelengths.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid further including directing the removed portions to anabsorption means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid further comprising the step of removing from the substantiallycollimated primary beam of electromagnetic energy at least apredetermined portion of a predetermined range of wavelengths anddirecting the removed portions to an absorption means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system ofdisplaying an image comprising:

[a]a method of displaying an image, comprising: providing anillumination subsystem including producing a primary beam of lighthaving a predetermined range of wavelengths, randomly changingorientations of a chosen component of electric field vectors, and asubstantially uniform flux intensity substantially across the initialbeam of light;

[b] providing a modulation subsystem, including;

[i] separating the primary beam of light into two or more primary colorbeams of light, each of the primary color beams having the same selectedpredetermined orientation of a chosen component of electric fieldvectors as that of the other primary color beams;

[ii] providing two or more altering means for changing the selectedpredetermined orientation of a chosen component of electric fieldvectors;

(iii] altering the selected predetermined orientation of the chosencomponent of the electric field vectors of a plurality of portions ofeach of the separate primary color beams of light by passing theplurality of portions of each of the separate primary color beam orbeams of light through a respective one of a plurality of altering meanswhereby the selected predetermined orientation of the chosen componentof the electric field vectors of the plurality of portions of each ofthe separate primary color beams of light is altered in response to astimulus means by applying a signal means to the stimulus means in apredetermined manner as the plurality of portions of each of theseparate primary color beams of light passes through the respective oneof the plurality of means for altering the selected predeterminedorientation of the chosen component of the electric field vectors;

[iv] combining the altered separate primary color beams of light into asingle collinear beam of light without substantially changing thealtered selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component ofthe electric field vectors of the plurality of portions of each of theseparate beams of light;

[v] resolving from the single collinear beam of light a first resolvedbeam of light having substantially a first selected predeterminedorientation of a chosen component of electric field vectors and a secondresolved beam of light having substantially a second selectedpredetermined orientation of a chosen component of electric fieldvectors, whereby the first and second selected predetermined orientationof the chosen component of the electric field vectors are different fromone another;

[c] providing a projection subsystem and passing at least one of theresolved beams of light thereto; and

[d]

[i] forming a first light path from the illumination subsystem to thealtering means in which the first light path is equal for all alteringmeans; and

(ii] forming a second light path from each of the altering means to theprojection subsystem in which the second light path is equal for allaltering means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system fordisplaying an image projected from a liquid crystal device whichincludes means for a first liquid crystal light valve, a second liquidcrystal light valve and a third liquid crystal light valve, comprising:means for producing a primary beam of light having a predetermined rangeof wavelengths, randomly changing orientations of a chosen component ofelectric field vectors, and a substantially uniform flux intensitysubstantially across the initial beam of light; means for separating theprimary beam of light into two or more primary color beams of light,each of the primary color beams having the same selected predeterminedorientation of a chosen component of electric field vectors as that ofthe other primary color beams; means for forming the optical light pathsbetween the light source and the three liquid crystal light valves whichare unequal in length and based on luminous intensity of the primarycolors associated with respective light valve produced by the lightsource; means for altering the selected predetermined orientation of thechosen component of the electric field vectors of a plurality ofportions of each of the separate primary color beams of light by passingthe plurality of portions of each of the separate primary color beams oflight through a respective one of the liquid crystal light valveswhereby the selected predetermined orientation of the chosen componentof the electric field vectors of the plurality of portions of each ofthe separate primary color beams of light is altered in response to astimulus means by applying a signal means to the stimulus means in apredetermined manner as the plurality of portions of each of theseparate primary color beams of light passes through the respective oneof the liquid crystal light valves altering the selected predeterminedorientation of the chosen component of the electric field vectors; meansfor combining the altered separate primary color beams of light into asingle collinear beam of light without substantially changing thealtered selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component ofthe electric field vectors of the plurality of portions of each of theseparate beams of light; means for resolving from the single collinearbeam of light a first resolved beam of light having substantially afirst selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component ofelectric field vectors and a second resolved beam of light havingsubstantially a second selected predetermined orientation of a chosencomponent of electric field vectors, whereby the first and secondselected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of theelectric field vectors are different from one another; and means forpassing at least one of the resolved beams to a projection means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a projection-type colordisplay device, comprising: means for producing a collimated primarybeam of light having a predetermined range of wavelengths, randomlychanging orientations of a chosen component of electric field vectors, asubstantially uniform flux intensity substantially across the initialbeam of light, and a rectangular cross sectional area; means forseparating the collimated primary beam of light into the primary colorbeams of red, blue and green, each of the primary color beams having thesame selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component ofelectric field vectors as that of the other primary color beams; meansfor altering the selected predetermined orientation of the chosencomponent of the electric field vectors of a plurality of portions ofeach of the separate primary color beams of red, blue and green bypassing the plurality of portions of each of the separate primary colorbeams of red, blue and green through a respective one of a plurality ofliquid crystal light valves whereby the selected predeterminedorientation of the chosen component of the electric field vectors of theplurality of portions of each of the separate primary color beams ofred, blue and green is altered in response to a stimulus means byapplying a signal means to the stimulus means in a predetermined manneras the plurality of portions of each of the separate primary color beamsof light passes through the respective one of the liquid crystal lightvalves altering the selected predetermined orientation of the chosencomponent of the electric field vectors; means for combining the alteredseparate primary color beams into a single collinear beam of lightwithout substantially changing the altered selected predeterminedorientation of the chosen component of the electric field vectors of theplurality of portions of each of the separate beams of red, blue andgreen by passing the altered separate primary color beams through acolor synthesis cube having a reflecting surface for synthesizing thered, blue and green beams into a single collinear beam of light; meansfor resolving from the single collinear beam of light a first resolvedbeam of light having substantially a first selected predeterminedorientation of a chosen component of electric field vectors and a secondresolved beam of light having substantially a second selectedpredetermined orientation of a chosen component of electric fieldvectors, whereby the first and second selected predetermined orientationof the chosen component of the electric field vectors are different fromone another; and means for passing at least one of the resolved beams toa projection means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a projection apparatus,comprising: means for producing a primary beam of light having apredetermined range of wavelengths, randomly changing orientations of achosen component of electric field vectors, a substantially uniform fluxintensity substantially across the initial beam of light, and arectangular cross sectional area; means for separating the primary beamof light into three primary color beams of light, each of the primarycolor beams having the same selected predetermined orientation of achosen component of electric field vectors as that of the other primarycolor beams; three means for altering the selected predeterminedorientation of the chosen component of the electric field vectors of aplurality of portions of each of the separate primary color beams oflight by passing the plurality of portions of each of the separateprimary color beams of light through a respective one of the alteringmeans whereby the selected predetermined orientation of the chosencomponent of the electric field vectors of the plurality of portions ofeach of the separate primary color beams of light is altered in responseto a stimulus means by applying a signal means to the stimulus means ina predetermined manner as the plurality of portions of each of theseparate primary color beams of light passes through the respective oneof the means for altering the selected predetermined orientation of thechosen component of the electric field vectors; means for combining thealtered separate primary color beams of light into a single collinearbeam of light without substantially changing the altered selectedpredetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric fieldvectors of the plurality of portions of each of the separate beams oflight by dichroic reflection surfaces intersecting in X-letter form;means for resolving from the single collinear beam of light a firstresolved beam of light having substantially a first selectedpredetermined orientation of a chosen component of electric fieldvectors and a second resolved beam of light having substantially asecond selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component ofelectric field vectors, whereby the first and second selectedpredetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric fieldvectors are different from one another; means for passing at least oneof the resolved beams from the single collinear beam of light to aprojection means; a driving circuit for driving each of the threealtering means according to the signal means; wherein the colorseparating means comprises a first flat-plate type dichroic mirror and asecond flat-plate type dichroic mirror intersecting in X-letter form,light paths from the intersecting part to each of the altering meanshaving lengths such that the path of the color light which advancesstraightly through the color separating means is the shortest, thesecond dichroic mirror being constructed by two dichroic mirrorsseparated at the intersecting part so that the dichroic reflectingsurfaces of the two dichroic mirrors are placed on mutually differentplanes to allow two-edge surfaces of the two dichroic mirrors formingthe intersecting part to be seen as being at least partially overlappingwhen the color separating means is observed from the output light sidein a direction along its input light.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system ofproducing one or more collinear beams of electromagnetic energy,comprising: producing two or more separate beams of electromagneticenergy, each of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy having thesame selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component ofelectromagnetic wave field vectors substantially across each beam, apredetermined range of wavelengths and a substantially uniform fluxintensity substantially across the beam of electromagnetic energy;altering the selected predetermined orientation of the chosen componentof the electromagnetic wave field vectors of a plurality of portions ofeach of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy by passing theplurality of portions of each of the separate beams of electromagneticenergy through a respective one of a plurality of altering means wherebythe selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors of the plurality of portions of eachof the separate beams of electromagnetic energy is altered in responseto a stimulus means by applying a signal means to the stimulus means ina predetermined manner as the plurality of portions of each of theseparate beams of electromagnetic energy passes through the respectiveone of the plurality of means for altering the selected predeterminedorientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave fieldvectors; combining the altered separate beams of electromagnetic energyinto a single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy withoutsubstantially changing the altered selected predetermined orientation ofthe chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of theplurality of portions of each of the separate beams of electromagneticenergy; and resolving from the single collinear beam of electromagneticenergy a first resolved beam of electromagnetic energy havingsubstantially a first selected predetermined orientation of a chosencomponent of electromagnetic wave field vectors and a second resolvedbeam of electromagnetic energy having substantially a second selectedpredetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wavefield vectors, whereby the first and second selected predeterminedorientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave fieldvectors are different from one another.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid for producing one or more collinear beams of light and a beamof ultraviolet light.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid in which the step of producing includes producing eachseparate beam of electromagnetic energy further having a rectangularcross-sectional area.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid further comprising the step of passing one of the resolvedbeams of electromagnetic energy to a projection means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid further comprising the step of adjusting the electromagneticspectrum of at least one of the separate beams of electromagneticenergy.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of adjusting the electromagnetic spectrum ofat least one of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy includesadjusting a predetermined range of wavelengths of at least one of theseparate beams of electromagnetic energy. The step of adjusting theelectromagnetic energy may be accomplished by adjusting the wavelengthsand/or intensity of at least one of the separate beams.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method of producing amodulated beam of electromagnetic energy in which the brightness of theimage increases as the distance from the projector lens to a screenincreases up to a distance of approximately 10 feet, comprising:producing a beam of electromagnetic energy having a substantiallyuniform flux intensity substantially across the entire beam; separatingthe beam of electromagnetic energy into two or more separateelectromagnetic energy beams, each of the electromagnetic energy beamshaving a predetermined orientation of electromagnetic wave field vector;passing a plurality of portions of each separated electromagnetic energybeam through a respective one of a plurality of means for changing theorientation of the electromagnetic wave field vector whereby theorientation of electromagnetic wave field vector of the plurality ofportions of the electromagnetic energy beams is altered as same passesthrough the respective one of the plurality of means for changing theorientation of electromagnetic wave field vector; combining theseparated electromagnetic energy beams into a single collinear beam ofelectromagnetic energy without changing the altered orientation of theelectromagnetic wave field vector of the plurality of portions of theelectromagnetic energy beams; producing two segregated electromagneticenergy beams from the collinear beam, each segregated electromagneticenergy beam having an orientation of electromagnetic wave field vectordifferent from the other electromagnetic energy beam; locating aprojection means such that the distance of the light path between theprojection means and each of the plurality of means for changing theorientation of the electromagnetic wave field vector is substantiallyequal; passing one of the segregated beams of electromagnetic beams ofelectromagnetic energy to the projection means; locating a surface meansup to approximately 10 feet of the projection means; and passing the oneof the segregated beams of electromagnetic energy from the projectionmeans to the surface means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system ofproducing a modulated beam of light suitable for projection of videoimages, comprising: producing an initial beam of light; separating theinitial beam of light into two or more separate beams of colors wherebyeach separate beam of color has the same single selected predeterminedorientation of a chosen component of the electric field vectors as thatof the other separate beams of color and each separate beam of colorhaving a color different from the other separate beams of colors;altering the single selected predetermined orientation of the chosencomponent of the electric field vectors of a plurality of portions ofeach separate beam of color by passing a plurality of portions of eachseparate beam of color through a respective one of a plurality ofaltering means whereby the single selected predetermined orientation ofthe chosen component of the electric field vectors of the plurality ofportions of each separate beam of color is altered in response to astimulus means by applying a signal means to the stimulus means in apredetermined manner as the plurality of portions of each of thesubstantially separate beams of electromagnetic energy passes throughthe respective one of the plurality of means for altering the singleselected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of the electricfield vectors; combining altered separate beams of color into a singlecollinear color beam without substantially changing the altered selectedpredetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric fieldvectors of the plurality of portions of each of the separate beam ofcolor; and resolving from the single collinear color beam a firstresolved color beam having substantially a first single selectedpredetermined orientation of a chosen component of the electric fieldvectors and second resolved color beam having substantially a secondsingle selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of theelectric field vectors, whereby the first and second single selectedpredetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric fieldvectors are different from one another.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid which further comprises the step of passing one of theresolved color beams to a projection means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid in which the step of producing includes producing an initialcollimated beam of light having a substantially uniform flux intensityacross substantially the entire initial collimated beam of light andsubstantially the same single selected predetermined orientation of achosen component of the electric field vectors across substantially theentire initial collimated beam of light.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid which further includes the step of removing from the initialcollimated beam of light at least a portion of ultraviolet and at leasta portion of infrared to produce an initial collimated beam of whitelight and directing the removed portions to a beam stop whereby theremoved ultraviolet and infrared is absorbed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system inwhich the step of separating further includes the step of adjusting byremoving at least a predetermined portion of color of at least one ofthe separate collimated beams of color and directing the removed portionto a beam stop whereby the removed portion is absorbed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid in which the step of producing includes producing an initialcollimated rectangular beam of light having a substantially uniform fluxintensity across substantially the entire initial collimated rectangularbeam of light and having substantially the same single selectedpredetermined orientation of a chosen component of the electric fieldvectors across substantially the entire initial collimated rectangularbeam of light.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system ofproducing a modulated beam of light suitable for projection of videoimages, comprising: providing a first initial beam of light havingrandomly changing orientations of the selected component of the electricfield vectors; integrating the first initial beam of light to form asecond initial beam of light having a substantially uniform fluxintensity across substantially the entire second initial beam of light;collimating the second initial beam of light into an initial collimatedbeam of light having randomly changing orientations of the selectedcomponent of the electric field vectors and a substantially uniform fluxintensity across substantially the entire second initial beam of lightremoving from the initial collimated beam of light at least a portion ofultraviolet and infrared to produce an initial collimated beam of whitelight and directing the removed portions to a beam stop whereby theremoved portion is absorbed; resolving from the initial collimated beamof white light an initial collimated first resolved beam of white lighthaving substantially a first single selected predetermined orientationof a chosen component of the electric field vectors and an initialcollimated second resolved beam of white light having substantially asecond single selected predetermined orientation of a chosen componentof the electric field vectors, whereby the first and second singleselected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of theelectric field vectors are different from one another; forming from theinitial collimated first resolved beam of white light and initialcollimated second resolved beam of white light a substantiallycollimated rectangular initial single beam of white light havingsubstantially the same single selected predetermined orientation of achosen component of the electric field vectors across substantially theentire beam of light and a substantially uniform flux intensity acrosssubstantially the entire initial collimated single beam of white light;separating the collimated rectangular initial single beam of white lightinto two or more separate collimated rectangular beams of color wherebyeach of the separate collimated rectangular beam of color has the samesingle selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of theelectric field vectors as that of the other separate collimatedrectangular beams of colors and each separate collimated rectangularbeam of color having a different color from the other separatecollimated rectangular beams of colors; adjusting the color by removingat least a predetermined portion of color of at least one of theseparate collimated rectangular beam of colors and directing the removedportion to a beam stop whereby the removed portion is absorbed; alteringthe single selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component ofthe electric field vectors of a plurality of portions of each separatecollimated rectangular beam of color by passing a plurality of portionsof each separate collimated rectangular beam of color through arespective one of a plurality of altering means whereby the singleselected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of theelectric field vectors of the plurality of portions of each separatebeam of color is altered in response to a stimulus means by applying asignal means to the stimulus means in a predetermined manner as theplurality of portions of each of the substantially collimated separatebeams of electromagnetic energy passes through the respective one of theplurality of altering the single selected predetermined orientation of achosen component of the electric field vectors; combining the alteredseparate collimated rectangular beams of color into a single collimatedrectangular collinear color beam without substantially changing thealtered selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component ofthe electric field vectors of the plurality of portions of each separatecollimated rectangular beam of color; resolving from the singlecollimated rectangular collinear color beam a first collimatedrectangular resolved color beam having substantially a first singleselected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of the electricfield vectors and second collimated rectangular resolved color beamhaving substantially a second single selected predetermined orientationof a chosen component of the electric field vectors, whereby the firstand second single selected predetermined orientation of the chosencomponent of the electric field vectors are different from one another;and passing one of the first collimated rectangular or second collimatedrectangular resolved color beam to a projection means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system ofproducing a collinear beam of electromagnetic energy having twoconstituent parts, comprising:

[a] providing a substantially collimated primary beam of electromagneticenergy having a predetermined range of wavelengths and randomly changingorientations of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave fieldvectors;

[b] resolving the substantially collimated primary beam ofelectromagnetic energy into a substantially collimated primary firstresolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially a firstselected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors and a substantially collimatedprimary second resolved beam of electromagnetic energy havingsubstantially a second selected predetermined orientation of a chosencomponent of the electromagnetic wave field vectors;

[c] separating each of the substantially collimated primary resolvedbeams of electromagnetic energy into two or more substantiallycollimated separate beams of electromagnetic energy, each of thesubstantially collimated separate beams of electromagnetic energy havinga selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component ofelectromagnetic wave field vectors;

[d] altering the selected predetermined orientation of the chosencomponent of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of a plurality ofportions of each of the substantially collimated separate beams ofelectromagnetic energy by passing the plurality of portions of each ofthe substantially collimated separate beams of electromagnetic energythrough a respective one of a plurality of altering means whereby theselected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors of the plurality of portions of eachof the substantially collimated separate beams of electromagnetic energyis altered in response to a stimulus means by applying a signal means tothe stimulus means in a predetermined manner as the plurality ofportions of each of the substantially collimated separate beams ofelectromagnetic energy passes through the respective one of theplurality of means for altering the selected predetermined orientationof the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors;

[e]

[i] combining the substantially collimated altered separate beams ofelectromagnetic energy of the primary first resolved beam ofelectromagnetic energy into a first substantially collimated singlecollinear beam of electromagnetic energy without substantially changingthe altered selected predetermined orientation of the chosen componentof the electromagnetic wave field vectors of the plurality of portionsof each of the substantially collimated separate beams ofelectromagnetic energy, and

[ii] combining the substantially collimated altered separate beams ofelectromagnetic energy of the primary second resolved beam ofelectromagnetic energy into a second substantially collimated singlecollinear beam of electromagnetic energy without substantially changingthe altered selected predetermined orientation of the chosen componentof the electromagnetic wave field vectors of the plurality of portionsof each of the substantially collimated separate beams ofelectromagnetic energy;

[f]

[i] resolving from the first substantially collimated single collinearbeam of electromagnetic energy a substantially collimated first resolvedbeam of electromagnetic energy having substantially the first selectedpredetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wavefield vectors and a substantially collimated second resolved beam ofelectromagnetic energy having substantially the second selectedpredetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wavefield vectors, and

[ii] resolving from the second substantially collimated single collinearbeam of electromagnetic energy a substantially collimated first resolvedbeam of electromagnetic energy having substantially the first selectedpredetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wavefield vectors and a substantially collimated second resolved beam ofelectromagnetic energy having substantially the second selectedpredetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wavefield vectors; and

[g] merging one of the resolved beams of electromagnetic energy from thefirst substantially collimated single collinear beam of electromagneticenergy with one of the other resolved beams of electromagnetic energyfrom the second substantially collimated single collinear beam ofelectromagnetic energy into a substantially collimated third singlecollinear beam of electromagnetic energy.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid for producing a collinear beam as aforesaid for producing acollinear beam of light having two constituent parts and a beam ofultraviolet light having two constituent parts.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of resolving further includes resolving theprimary beam into first and second resolved beams in which the firstselected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors has the same selected predeterminedorientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave fieldvectors as that of the second selected predetermined orientation of thechosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of resolving further includes resolving theprimary beam into first and second resolved beams in which the firstselected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors has the selected predeterminedorientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave fieldvectors different from the second selected predetermined orientation ofthe chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of merging further includes the merging ofthe resolved beams in which the plurality of portions of one of themerged beams has a different selected predetermined orientation of achosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors as that of theplurality of portions of the other merged beam.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of merging further includes merging of theresolved beams in which each merged beam has its plurality of portionsparallel and noncoincident to the plurality of portions as that of theother merged beam.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of merging further includes merging of theresolved beams in which each merged beam has its plurality of portionsparallel and partially coincident to the plurality of portions as thatof the other merged beam.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of merging further includes merging of theresolved beams in which each merged beam has its plurality of portionsparallel and simultaneous to the plurality of portions as that of theother merged beam.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of merging further includes merging of theresolved beams in which each merged beam has its plurality of portionsparallel, noncoincident and simultaneous to the plurality of portions asthat of the other merged beam.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of merging further includes merging of theresolved beams in which each merged beam has its plurality of portionsparallel, partially coincident and simultaneous to the plurality ofportions as that of the other merged beam.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of merging further includes merging of theresolved beams in which the plurality of portions of one of the mergedbeams has the substantially same selected predetermined orientation of achosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors as that of theplurality of portions of the other merged beam.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of merging further includes merging of theresolved beams in which the plurality of portions of one of the mergedbeams has the substantially same selected predetermined orientation of achosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors as that of theplurality of portions of the other merged beam and further includes eachmerged beam having its plurality of portions parallel and noncoincidentto the plurality of portions as that of the other merged beam.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of merging further includes merging of theresolved beams in which the plurality of portions of one of the mergedbeams has the substantially same selected predetermined orientation of achosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors as that of theplurality of portions of the other merged beam and further includes eachmerged beam having its plurality of portions parallel and partiallycoincident to the plurality of portions as that of the other mergedbeam.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of merging further includes merging of theresolved beams in which the plurality of portions of one of the mergedbeams has the substantially same selected predetermined orientation of achosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors as that of theplurality of portions of the other merged beam and further includes eachmerged beam having its plurality of portions parallel and simultaneousto the plurality of portions as that of the other merged beam.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and systemfurther comprising the step of passing the substantially collimatedthird single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy to a projectionmeans.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system ofproducing a modulated beam of electromagnetic energy, comprising:

[a] providing a primary beam of electromagnetic energy having apredetermined range of wavelengths and randomly changing orientations ofa chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors;

[b] resolving the primary beam of electromagnetic energy into a primaryfirst resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially afirst selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors and a primary second resolved beam ofelectromagnetic energy having substantially a second selectedpredetermined orientation of a chosen component of the electromagneticwave field vectors;

[c] separating each of the primary resolved beams of electromagneticenergy into two or more separate beams of electromagnetic energy, eachof the separate beams of electromagnetic energy having a selectedpredetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wavefield vectors;

[d] altering the selected predetermined orientation of the chosencomponent of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of a plurality ofportions of each of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy bypassing the plurality of portions of each of the separate beams ofelectromagnetic energy through a respective one of a plurality ofaltering means whereby the selected predetermined orientation of thechosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of theplurality of portions of each of the separate beams of electromagneticenergy is altered in response to a stimulus means by applying a signalmeans to the stimulus means in a predetermined manner as the pluralityof portions of each of the separate beams of electromagnetic energypasses through the respective one of the plurality of means for alteringthe selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors;

[e]

[i] combining the altered separate beams of electromagnetic energy ofthe primary first resolved beam of electromagnetic energy into a firstsingle collinear beam of electromagnetic energy without substantiallychanging the altered selected predetermined orientation of the chosencomponent of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of the plurality ofportions of each of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy, and

[ii] combining the altered separate beams of electromagnetic energy ofthe primary second resolved beam of electromagnetic energy into a secondsingle collinear beam of electromagnetic energy without substantiallychanging the altered selected predetermined orientation of the chosencomponent of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of the plurality ofportions of each of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy; and

[f]

[i] resolving from the first single collinear beam of electromagneticenergy a first resolved beam of electromagnetic energy havingsubstantially a first selected predetermined orientation of a chosencomponent of electromagnetic wave field vectors and a second resolvedbeam of electromagnetic energy having substantially a second selectedpredetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wavefield vectors, and

[ii] resolving from the second single collinear beam of electromagneticenergy a first resolved beam of electromagnetic energy havingsubstantially a first selected predetermined orientation of a chosencomponent of electromagnetic wave field vectors and a second resolvedbeam of electromagnetic energy having substantially a second selectedpredetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wavefield vectors.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid of producing a modulated beam of light and a beam ofultraviolet light.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of providing includes providing asubstantially collimated primary beam of electromagnetic energy.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of providing includes providing a primarybeam of electromagnetic energy having a rectangular cross sectionalarea.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of providing includes providing a primaryinitial beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially the sameselected predetermined orientation for the chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors substantially across the beam.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of resolving includes resolving the primarybeam into primary first and second resolved beams in which each of theresolved beams of electromagnetic energy has the substantially sameselected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors substantially across each of theresolved beams of electromagnetic energy as that of the other resolvedbeams of electromagnetic energy.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of resolving includes resolving the primarybeam into primary first and second resolved beams in which the firstselected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors has the same selected predeterminedorientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave fieldvectors of the second selected predetermined orientation of the chosencomponent of the electromagnetic wave field vectors.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid further comprising the step of passing at least one of thebeams resolved from the first or second single collinear beam ofelectromagnetic energy to a projection means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid further comprising the step of passing one of the first orsecond resolved beams of electromagnetic energy obtained from resolvingfrom the first single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy to aprojection means and passing one of the first or second resolved beamsof electromagnetic energy obtained from resolving from the second singlecollinear beam of electromagnetic energy to a projection means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid further comprising the step of adjusting the electromagneticspectrum of at least one of the separate beams of electromagneticenergy. The step of adjusting the electromagnetic energy may beaccomplished by adjusting the wavelengths and/or intensity of at leastone of the separated beams.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of separating includes separating each of theprimary resolved beams into two or more separate beams in which each ofthe separate beams of electromagnetic energy has a predetermined rangeof wavelengths different from the other separate beams ofelectromagnetic energy.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid further comprising the step of adjusting the magnitude of atleast one of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy obtained fromthe step of separating each of the primary resolved beams ofelectromagnetic energy into two or more separate beams ofelectromagnetic energy.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system ofproducing a collinear beam of electromagnetic energy having twoconstituent parts, comprising:

[a] providing a primary beam of electromagnetic energy having apredetermined range of wavelengths, randomly changing orientations of achosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors, and asubstantially uniform flux intensity substantially across the initialbeam of electromagnetic energy;

[b] resolving the primary beam of electromagnetic energy into a primaryfirst resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially afirst selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors and a primary second resolved beam ofelectromagnetic energy having substantially a second selectedpredetermined orientation of a chosen component of the electromagneticwave field vectors;

[c] altering the selected predetermined orientation of the chosencomponent of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of a plurality ofportions of each of the primary resolved beams of electromagnetic energyby passing the plurality of portions of each of the primary resolvedbeams of electromagnetic energy through a respective one of a pluralityof altering means whereby the selected predetermined orientation of thechosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of theplurality of portions of each of the primary resolved beams ofelectromagnetic energy is altered in response to a stimulus means byapplying a signal means to the stimulus means in a predetermined manneras the plurality of portions of each of the primary resolved beams ofelectromagnetic energy passes through the respective one of theplurality of means for altering the selected predetermined orientationof the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors;

[d]

[i] resolving from the first altered primary first resolved beam ofelectromagnetic energy a first resolved beam of electromagnetic energyhaving substantially a first selected predetermined orientation of achosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors and a secondresolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially a secondselected predetermined orientation of a chosen component ofelectromagnetic wave field vectors, and

[ii] resolving from the second altered primary first resolved beam ofelectromagnetic energy a first resolved beam of electromagnetic energyhaving substantially a first selected predetermined orientation of achosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors and a secondresolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially a secondselected predetermined orientation of a chosen component ofelectromagnetic wave field vectors; and

[e] merging one of the resolved beams of electromagnetic energy from thealtered primary first resolved beam of electromagnetic energy with oneof the resolved beams of electromagnetic energy from the second alteredprimary resolved beam of electromagnetic energy into a first singlecollinear beam of electromagnetic energy.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid of producing a collinear beam of light having two constituentparts and a beam of ultraviolet light having two constituent parts.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of resolving includes resolving the primarybeam into primary first and second resolved beams in which the firstselected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors has the same selected predeterminedorientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave fieldvectors of the second selected predetermined orientation of the chosencomponent of the electromagnetic wave field vectors.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of resolving includes resolving the primarybeam into primary first and second resolved beams in which the firstselected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors has a selected predeterminedorientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave fieldvectors different from the second selected predetermined orientation ofthe chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of merging includes merging said resolvedbeams in which the plurality of portions of one of the merged resolvedbeams has a different selected predetermined orientation of a chosencomponent of electromagnetic wave field vectors from the plurality ofportions of the other merged resolved beam.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of merging includes merging said resolvedbeams in which each merged beam has its plurality of portions paralleland noncoincident to the plurality of portions of the other merged beam.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of merging includes merging said resolvedbeams in which each merged beam has its plurality of portions paralleland partially coincident to the plurality of portions of the othermerged beam.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid in which the step of merging includes merging said resolvedbeams in which each merged beam has its plurality of portions paralleland simultaneous to the plurality of portions of the other merged beam.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid in which the step of merging includes merging said resolvedbeams in which each merged beam has its plurality of portions parallel,noncoincident and simultaneous to the plurality of portions of the othermerged beam.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid in which the step of merging includes merging said resolvedbeams in which each merged beam has its plurality of portions parallel,partially coincident and simultaneous to the plurality of portions ofthe other merged beam.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid in which the step of merging includes merging said resolvedbeams in which the plurality of portions of one of the merged beams hasthe substantially same selected predetermined orientation of a chosencomponent of electromagnetic wave field vectors as the plurality ofportions of the other merged beam.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid in which the step of merging includes merging said resolvedbeams in which the plurality of portions of one of the merged beams hasthe substantially same selected predetermined orientation of a chosencomponent of electromagnetic wave field vectors as the plurality ofportions of the other merged beam and each merged beam has its pluralityof portions parallel and noncoincident to the plurality of portions ofthe other merged beam.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid in which the step of merging includes merging said resolvedbeams in which the plurality of portions of one of the merged beams hasthe substantially same selected predetermined orientation of a chosencomponent of electromagnetic wave field vectors as the plurality ofportions of the other merged beam and each merged beam has its pluralityof portions parallel and partially coincident to the plurality ofportions of the other merged beam.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid in which the step of merging includes merging said resolvedbeams in which the plurality of portions of one of the merged beams hasthe substantially same selected predetermined orientation of a chosencomponent of electromagnetic wave field vectors as that of the pluralityof portions of the other merged beam and each merged beam having itsplurality of portions parallel and simultaneous to the plurality ofportions of the other merged beam.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid further comprising the step of passing the first singlecollinear beam of electromagnetic energy to a projection means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system ofproducing one or more collinear beams of electromagnetic energy,comprising:

[a] producing four or more separate beams of electromagnetic energy,each of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy having the sameselected predetermined orientation of a chosen component ofelectromagnetic wave field vectors substantially across each beam, apredetermined range of wavelengths and a substantially uniform fluxintensity substantially across each beam of electromagnetic energy;

[b] altering the selected predetermined orientation of the chosencomponent of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of a plurality ofportions of each of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy bypassing the plurality of portions of each of the separate beams ofelectromagnetic energy through a respective one of a plurality ofaltering means whereby the selected predetermined orientation of thechosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of theplurality of portions of each of the separate beams of electromagneticenergy is altered in response to a stimulus means by applying a signalmeans to the stimulus means in a predetermined manner as the pluralityof portions of each of the separate beams of electromagnetic energypasses through the respective one of the plurality of means for alteringthe selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors;

[c]

[i] combining at least one of the altered separate beams ofelectromagnetic energy with at least one of the other altered separatebeams of electromagnetic energy into a first single collinear beam ofelectromagnetic energy without substantially changing the alteredselected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors of the plurality of portions of eachof the combined separate beams of electromagnetic energy, and

[ii] combining at least one of the altered separate beams ofelectromagnetic energy with at least one of the other altered separatebeams of electromagnetic energy into a second single collinear beam ofelectromagnetic energy without substantially changing the alteredselected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors of the plurality of portions of eachof the combined separate beams of electromagnetic energy;

[d]

[i] resolving from the first single collinear beam of electromagneticenergy a first resolved beam of electromagnetic energy havingsubstantially a first selected predetermined orientation of a chosencomponent of electromagnetic wave field vectors and a second resolvedbeam of electromagnetic energy having substantially a second selectedpredetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wavefield vectors, and

(ii] resolving from the second single collinear beam of electromagneticenergy a first resolved beam of electromagnetic energy havingsubstantially a first selected predetermined orientation of a chosencomponent of electromagnetic wave field vectors and a second resolvedbeam of electromagnetic energy having substantially a second selectedpredetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wavefield vectors; and

[e] merging one of the resolved beams of electromagnetic energy from thefirst single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy with one of theother resolved beams of electromagnetic energy from the second singlecollinear beam of electromagnetic energy into a third single collinearbeam of electromagnetic energy.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid producing one or more collinear beams of light and beams ofultraviolet light.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid in which the step of producing includes producing eachseparate beam of electromagnetic energy further having a rectangularcross sectional area.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid further comprising the step of passing the third singlecollinear beam of electromagnetic energy to a projection means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid further comprising the step of adjusting the electromagneticspectrum of at least one of the separate beams of electromagneticenergy. The step of adjusting the electromagnetic energy may beaccomplished by adjusting the wavelengths and/or intensity of at leastone of the separated beams.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system ofproducing a modulated beam of electromagnetic energy comprising:producing an initial beam of electromagnetic energy having apredetermined range of wavelengths and having a substantially uniformflux intensity substantially across the initial beam of electromagneticenergy; separating the initial beam of electromagnetic energy into twoor more separate beams of electromagnetic energy, each of the separatebeams of electromagnetic energy having a selected predeterminedorientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors;altering the selected predetermined orientation of the chosen componentof the electromagnetic wave field vectors of a plurality of portions ofeach of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy by passing theplurality of portions of each of the separate beams of electromagneticenergy through a respective one of a plurality of altering means wherebythe selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors of the plurality of portions of eachof the separate beams of electromagnetic energy is altered in responseto a stimulus means by applying a signal means to the stimulus means ina predetermined manner as the plurality of portions of each of thesubstantially separate beams of electromagnetic energy passes throughthe respective one of the plurality of means for altering the selectedpredetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electromagneticwave field vectors; combining the altered separate beams ofelectromagnetic energy into a single collinear beam of electromagneticenergy without substantially changing the altered selected predeterminedorientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave fieldvectors of the plurality of portions of each of the separate beams ofelectromagnetic energy; resolving from the single collinear beam ofelectromagnetic energy a first resolved beam of electromagnetic energyhaving substantially a first selected predetermined orientation of achosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors and a secondresolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially a secondselected predetermined orientation of a chosen component ofelectromagnetic wave field vectors, whereby the first and secondselected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors are different from one another; andaltering the selected predetermined orientation of the chosen componentof the electromagnetic wave field vectors of a plurality of portions ofthe resolved beam of electromagnetic energy by passing the plurality ofportions of the resolved beam of electromagnetic energy through aaltering means whereby the selected predetermined orientation of thechosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of theplurality of portions of the resolved beam of electromagnetic energy isaltered in response to a stimulus means by applying a signal means tothe stimulus means in a predetermined manner as the plurality ofportions of the resolved beam of electromagnetic energy passes throughthe plurality of means for altering the selected predeterminedorientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave fieldvectors.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method as aforesaid ofproducing a modulated beam of light.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid in which the step of producing a substantially collimated beamof electromagnetic energy having substantially the same selectedpredetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wavefield vectors and a substantially uniform flux intensity substantiallyacross the beam of electromagnetic energy, comprising: providing asubstantially collimated beam of electromagnetic energy having apredetermined range of wavelengths; resolving from the substantiallycollimated beam of electromagnetic energy a substantially collimatedfirst resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially afirst selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors and a substantially collimated secondresolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially a secondselected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors, whereby the first and secondselected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors are different from one another; andforming from the substantially collimated first resolved beam ofelectromagnetic energy and the substantially collimated second resolvedbeam of electromagnetic energy a substantially collimated single beam ofelectromagnetic energy having substantially the same selectedpredetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wavefield vectors substantially across the substantially collimated singlebeam of electromagnetic energy and a substantially uniform fluxintensity substantially across the substantially collimated single beamof electromagnetic energy.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid of producing a substantially collimated beam of light and abeam of ultraviolet light.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of forming includes forming the single beamof electromagnetic energy further having a rectangular cross sectionalarea.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid further comprising the steps of resolving and forming the stepof producing from the substantially collimated first and second resolvedbeam of electromagnetic energy a substantially collimated first andsecond resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially thesame selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of resolving includes resolving from thesubstantially collimated beam of electromagnetic energy a substantiallycollimated first resolved beam of electromagnetic energy andsubstantially collimated second resolved beam of electromagnetic energyfurther having substantially uniform flux intensity substantially acrossthe beam of electromagnetic energy, and step [c] further includesforming the substantially collimated single beam of electromagneticenergy further having substantially the same uniform flux intensitysubstantially across the beam of electromagnetic energy as that of eachof the resolved beams of electromagnetic energy.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid further comprising between the steps of resolving and formingthe step of producing from the substantially collimated first and secondresolved beam of electromagnetic energy a substantially collimated firstand second resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantiallythe same selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component ofthe electromagnetic wave field vectors, whereby the substantiallycollimated first and second resolved beam of electromagnetic energy areparallel and noncollinear.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid further comprising the step of passing one of thesubstantially collimated resolved beams of electromagnetic energythrough a means for changing the selected predetermined orientation ofthe chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of passing one of the substantiallycollimated resolved beams of electromagnetic energy through a means forchanging the selected predetermined orientation of the chosen componentof the electromagnetic wave field vectors includes passing one of thesubstantially collimated resolved beams of electromagnetic energythrough a liquid crystal device for changing the selected predeterminedorientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave fieldvectors.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid further comprising the step of passing one of thesubstantially collimated resolved beams of electromagnetic energythrough a means for changing the selected predetermined orientation of achosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors and changing theselected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors of one of the substantiallycollimated resolved beam of electromagnetic energy to matchsubstantially the selected predetermined orientation of the chosencomponent of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of the othersubstantially collimated resolved beam of electromagnetic energy.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of forming further comprises the step ofreflecting one of the substantially collimated resolved beams ofelectromagnetic energy from one or more reflecting means, each of thereflecting means having means for changing the selected predeterminedorientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave fieldvectors.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of reflecting one of the substantiallycollimated resolved beams of electromagnetic energy from one or morereflecting means, each of the reflecting means having means for changingthe selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors includes reflecting one of thesubstantially collimated resolved beams of electromagnetic energy fromone or more planar reflecting surface having a dielectric coating, eachplanar reflecting surface having a dielectric coating including meansfor changing the selected predetermined orientation of the chosencomponent of the electromagnetic wave field vectors.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of reflecting one of the substantiallycollimated resolved beams of electromagnetic energy from one or morereflecting means, each of the reflecting means having means for changingthe selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors includes reflecting one of thesubstantially collimated resolved beams of electromagnetic energy fromone or more mirrors having a thin film dielectric material, each mirrorshaving a thin film dielectric material including means for changing theselected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid wherein the step of providing includes providing asubstantially collimated beam of electromagnetic energy further havingrandomly changing orientations of a chosen component of electromagneticwave field vectors.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid further comprising the step of removing from at least one ofthe beams of electromagnetic energy at least a predetermined portion ofa predetermined range of wavelengths.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid further including directing the removed portions to anabsorption means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system ofproducing a modulated beam of electromagnetic energy comprising:providing an initial collimated beam of electromagnetic energy havingrandomly changing orientations of the selected component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors and having a substantially uniformflux intensity across substantially the entire beam; resolving from theinitial collimated beam of electromagnetic energy an initial collimatedfirst resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially afirst single selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component ofthe electromagnetic wave field vectors and an initial collimated secondresolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially a secondsingle selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors, whereby the first and second singleselected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors are different from one another;forming from the initial collimated first resolved beam ofelectromagnetic energy and the initial collimated second resolved beamof electromagnetic energy a substantially collimated rectangular initialsingle beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially the samesingle selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of theelectromagnetic wave field vectors across substantially the entire beamof electromagnetic energy and a substantially uniform flux intensityacross substantially the entire initial collimated single beam ofelectromagnetic energy; separating the collimated rectangular initialsingle beam of electromagnetic energy into two or more separatecollimated rectangular beams of electromagnetic energy whereby each ofthe separate collimated rectangular beams of electromagnetic energy hasthe same single selected predetermined orientation of a chosen componentof the electromagnetic wave field vectors as that of the other separatecollimated rectangular beams of electromagnetic energy and each separatecollimated rectangular beam of electromagnetic energy having a differentelectromagnetic energy from the other separate collimated rectangularbeams of electromagnetic energy; adjusting the electromagnetic energy byremoving at least a predetermined portion of electromagnetic energy ofat least one of the separate collimated rectangular beams ofelectromagnetic energy and directing the removed portion to a beam stopwhereby the removed portion is removed; altering the single selectedpredetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electromagneticwave field vectors of a plurality of portions of each separatecollimated rectangular beam of electromagnetic energy by passing aplurality of portions of each separate collimated rectangular beam ofelectromagnetic energy through a respective one of a plurality ofaltering means whereby the single selected predetermined orientation ofthe chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of theplurality of portions of each separate beam of electromagnetic energy isaltered in response to a stimulus means by applying a signal means tothe stimulus means in a predetermined manner as the plurality ofportions of each of the substantially collimated separate beams ofelectromagnetic energy passes through the respective one of theplurality of altering the single selected predetermined orientation of achosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors; combiningthe altered separate collimated rectangular beams of electromagneticenergy into a single collimated rectangular collinear electromagneticenergy beam without substantially changing the altered selectedpredetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electromagneticwave field vectors of the plurality of portions of each separatecollimated rectangular beam of electromagnetic energy; resolving fromthe single collimated rectangular collinear electromagnetic energy beama first collimated rectangular resolved electromagnetic energy beamhaving substantially a first single selected predetermined orientationof a chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors andsecond collimated rectangular resolved electromagnetic energy beamhaving substantially a second single selected predetermined orientationof a chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors, wherebythe first and second single selected predetermined orientation of thechosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors are differentfrom one another; and passing one of the first collimated rectangular orsecond collimated rectangular resolved electromagnetic energy beams to aprojection means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system asaforesaid for modulating a beam of light.

One illustrative embodiment of the invention comprises: a light sourcefor producing a collimated unpolarized beam of light; a polarizing beamsplitter for splitting the unpolarized source beam into separateorthogonal linear P-polarized and S-polarized light beams; a half-waveretarded for converting the S-polarized light beam back to a secondpolarized-polarized light beam; and an arrangement of mirrors thatcombines the P-polarized light beams into a rectangular shaped beam of aunitary polarization.

The light beam, at this point, is separated into a red component andinto a blue-green component using a first dichroic mirror selected toreflect light having red wavelengths greater than 600 nanometers. Theblue-green component is then separated into a blue beam and a green beamusing a second dichroic mirror selected to reflect light having greenwavelengths between 500 nanometers and 600 nanometers. As an option, thered beam and the blue beam can be further filtered in order to providean optimum of color balance in visual effect and the rejected portionsof the beams that are filtered out from the red and blue can then beabsorbed. At this point, the separate red, green and blue beams arepassed through liquid crystal display devices and have their electricfield vectors altered according to the input signal. The separate redand green beams are combined into a red-green beam using a dichroicmirror selected to pass the green beam wavelengths less than 595nanometers and reflect the red beam. This red-green beam is thencombined with a separate blue beam utilizing another dichroic mirrorselected to pass the red-green beam wavelengths greater than 515nanometers and reflect the blue beam to form a collinear beam. Thiscollinear beam is then passed through a polarizer analyzer to segregatethe beam according its electric field vector. One of the segregatedbeams can be passed to an absorbing beam block. The selected segregatedmodulated polarized beam is passed onto a projection lens that projectsit onto a viewing screen. The system and method of the invention can beadapted for projecting a large image of high brightness, resolution andcontrast onto a screen.

It should be further understood that, while certain particularwavelength numbers have been given for red, blue and green, they are forillustrative purposes only and can be changed or shifted due to the typeof light source used. The changing or shifting of the particular rangeof wavelengths of the colors is due to the final color balance that isdesired.

In use of one system disclosed, collimated light from the light sourceis directed through the polarizing beam splitter. The polarizing beamsplitter separates the randomly polarized beam into a linear P-polarizedbeam and S-polarized beam and deflects the orthogonal polarized beams atright angles to one another. The P-polarized beam passes through thepolarizing beam splitter and is reflected through an angle of 90° by afirst mirror and into the projector beam path. The S-polarized beamexits from the polarizing beam splitter at an angle of 90° to theP-polarization beam and passes through the half-wave retarder. Thehalf-wave retarder changes the polarization of the S-polarized beam backto P-polarization. A second mirror then reflects this P-polarized beamthrough an angle of 90° onto a third and a fourth mirror. The third andfourth mirrors split the reflected P-polarization beam and again reflectthe P-polarized light beam from the second mirror through an angle of90° and onto the LCD. The four mirrors are mounted along an optic pathwith respect to one another such that the separate P-polarized beams arecombined in a generally rectangular shaped beam that corresponds to therectangular light aperture of a LCD.

The system of the invention permits virtually all the light from thelight source to be directed at the LCD. Moreover, the light beam at theLCD has a shape that corresponds to the generally rectangular outerperipheral configuration of most LCDs. The advantages of the rectangularbeam allow the utilized light to strike the useful portions of the LCD,thereby not overheating the other elements surrounding the LCD causingreflection and/or heating problems.

Furthermore, another embodiment of the system of the invention directs acollimated source beam into a polarizer and divides the source beam intoa right side beam and a left side beam, each having the same directionof polarization. The left side beam and the right side beam are thenfiltered into separate primary color beams (red, green and blue). Eachseparate primary color beam has the pixels of the respective portions ofthe beam changed in regards to the electric field vector by separateLCDs responsive to left and right side input images. The respectiveimages of the right and left side primary color beams are then combinedinto a single right and left side images. The left and right side imagesare then combined, resolved into different polarized light beamsaccording to the electric field vector by a polarizer analyzer and thenone of said polarized beams is projected onto a display screen.

In yet another embodiment, a high resolution image is obtained by themethod and system as described above. The left side beam is offset onthe display screen from the right side beam (or vice versa) by a smallamount in either the horizontal or the vertical direction (i.e., onepixel). In this mode, the driving electronics of the liquid LCDs mustsplit an input image and provide that every other pixel is sent to theright or to the left side.

In order to project a three-dimensional image, separate input imagescorresponding to the left and right eyes of the viewer (i.e., differentspatial perspectives) are input into the separate left and right sideLCDs. A viewer has the choice of putting on a set of glasses over hiseyes, such that the lens over the right eye is for viewing imagespolarized in a first direction and the lens over the left eye is forviewing images polarized in a different direction. The viewer will see athree-dimensional image if the signal provided to the drivingelectronics for the left/right side provide for a different signalcorresponding to the different angular spatial mode of the left andright eye, i.e., the left side is a left side camera and the right sideis a right side camera. These separate left side or right side imagesmay also be viewed in three dimensions by a timed sequence for achievingthe 3-D effect without glasses.

As an example, the system is configured such that a viewer's glassescontain a lens for viewing different orthogonally or differentcircularly polarized images. A left eye lens is configured for viewingP-polarized light while the right eye lens is configured for viewingS-polarized light. Alternately, as an example, the left eye lens isconfigured for viewing right circularly polarized light while the righteye lens is configured for viewing left circularly polarized light.

As an alternate example, the system is configured such that, in place ofthe viewer's glasses, a polarized screen is used. This screen is formedof a transparent material that has two or more different polarizationcoatings or layers. Each coating or layer reflects a certain orientationof an electric field vector and passes all other orientations ofelectric field vectors. Each successive layer or coating is differentfrom the other layers. This allows certain portions of the image to beseen in depth or in actual 3-D. These types of layers or coatings areavailable from OCLI. For a general discussion, see “Optical Thin FilmsUser's Handbook”, by James D. Rancourt, McGraw-Hill Optical andElectro-optical Engineering Series, 1987.

In alternate embodiments of the invention, 3-D high-resolution, 3-Dblack and white or color high-resolution projectors are provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustrative drawing of an electromagnetic wave with thedirection of propagation, electric and magnetic fields shown;

FIG. 1A is an illustrative drawing of an electromagnetic wave lookingdown the. axis of propagation, showing various directions of possibledifferent orientations of the electric field vector for illustrativepurposes;

FIG. 1B is an illustrative drawing of the resolution of an electricfield vector into two components, along an x and y axis;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of an LCD cell as is known in the art;

FIG. 2A is a schematic drawing of an LCD component showing the pixelsused in the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a system for illuminating an LCDdisplay or LCDs in a LCLV projector in accordance with an illustrativeembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3A is a schematic illustration of a system for illuminating an LCDdisplay or LCLV projector similar to that shown in FIG. 3 but inaccordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3B is a schematic illustration of a system for illuminating an LCDdisplay or LCLV projector similar to that shown in FIGS. 3 & 3A but inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention for such adisplay or projector;

FIG. 3C is a schematic illustration of a system for illuminating an LCDdisplay or LCLV projector similar to that shown in FIGS. 3, 3A & 3B butin accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention for such adisplay or projector;

FIG. 4 is a schematic of a collimated light beam from a light sourcesuperimposed upon a mirror used in a system constructed in accordancewith the invention;

FIG. 4A is a diagrammatic representation used in an analysis of thegeometry of an LCD light aperture and a light beam;

FIG. 5 is a schematic showing the shape of a light beam of a unitarypolarization formed in accordance with the invention superimposed uponan LCD display;

FIG. 6 is an illustrative drawing showing several layers of a thin filmcoating being illuminated by a non-polarized wave source and theresulting polarized beam;

FIG. 7 is an illustrative drawing depicting a polarized beam impingingupon a LCD cell and the resulting retardation (changing, altering, ortwisting) of the electric field vector;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic representation of a color LCLV projectorconstructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8A is a functional illustration of FIG. 8 showing in diagrammaticform the steps involved in the method of producing a modulated beam ofelectromagnetic energy for use in a color LCLV projector;

FIG. 8B is a schematic illustration of a preferred embodiment of asystem for a LCLV projector in accordance with the invention usingunequal light pathways from the light source to the LCDs and a dichroicbeam combiner;

FIG. 8C is a schematic illustration of a preferred embodiment of asystem for an LCLV projector in accordance with the invention usingequal light pathways from the light to the LCDs and equal light pathwaysfrom the LCDs to the projection lens;

FIG. 8D is a schematic illustration of a preferred embodiment of asystem for a LCLV projector in accordance with the invention usingunequal light pathways from the light source to the LCDs and a dichroicbeam splitter and combiner;

FIG. 8E is a schematic illustration of a preferred embodiment of asystem for an LCLV projector in accordance with the invention using adichroic beam combiner and using individual separated light sources suchas rectangular linear arrays of laser diodes, LEDs, fluorescent flatplates, or neon flat plates;

FIG. 8F is a schematic illustration of a preferred embodiment of asystem for an LCLV projector in accordance with the invention using aseparated dichroic mirror means for beam combination and usingindividual separated light sources such as rectangular linear arrays,laser diodes, LEDs, fluorescent flat plates, or neon flat plates;

FIG. 8G is a schematic illustration of a preferred embodiment of asystem for an LCLV projector in accordance with the invention using aseparated dichroic mirror means for beam combination and usingindividual separated light sources such as single light sources such asargon ion lasers or high intensity white lights;

FIG. 9 is a graph showing the spectral characteristics of commonly usedoptical sources;

FIG. 9A is a table showing the performance data of common opticalsources;

FIG. 10 is a graph illustrating the scotopic and photopic responsecharacteristics for the human eye of visible light;

FIG. 10A is an illustration showing the CIE color diagram;

FIG. 10B is the same as FIG. 10A but shows the different colors given tothe various regions;

FIG. 11 is a graph showing a wavelength response of polarizing cubecomponent used in an illustrative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a graph of the transmissive and reflective characteristics ofa mirror (33) used in an illustrative embodiment of the invention forseparating an infrared component of a source beam;

FIG. 13 is a graph of the transmissive and reflective characteristics ofa mirror (35) used in an illustrative embodiment of the invention forseparating an ultraviolet component of the source beam;

FIG. 14 is a graph of the transmissive and reflective characteristics ofmirrors (80 & 82) used in an illustrative embodiment of the inventionfor separating and further filtering a red light component of the sourcebeam;

FIG. 15 is a graph of the reflective and transmissive characteristics ofmirror (90) used in an illustrative embodiment of the invention forcombining an altered blue beam and an altered red-green beam;

FIG. 16 is an analysis of the reflective and transmissivecharacteristics of mirror (92) used in an illustrative embodiment of theinvention for combining an altered red beam and an altered green beam;

FIG. 17 is an analysis of the reflective and transmissivecharacteristics of mirrors (86 & 88) used in an illustrative embodimentof the invention for further filtering a blue beam;

FIG. 18 is an analysis of the reflective and transmissivecharacteristics of a mirror (84) used in an illustrative embodiment ofthe invention for further filtering a blue beam;

FIG. 19 is a schematic flow diagram of a color LCLV projectorconstructed in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 20 is a diagrammatic representation of a 3-D color LCLV projectorconstructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 20A is a diagrammatic representation of a 3-D color LCLV projectorconstructed in accordance with a preferred alternate embodiment of theinvention using an additional quarter-wave retarder;

FIG. 20B is a diagrammatic representation of a 3-D color LCLV projectorconstructed in accordance with another alternate embodiment of theinvention for use with circular polarization viewing lenses;

FIG. 20C is a schematic illustration of a preferred embodiment of asystem for a dual beam LCLV projector suitable for 3-D, high brightnessor high resolution in accordance with the invention using a dichroicbeam combiner and using individual separated light sources such asrectangular linear arrays of laser diodes or LEDs;

FIG. 20D is a schematic illustration of an alternative embodiment for adual beam LCLV projector suitable for 3-D, high brightness or highresolution in accordance with the invention using beam combiners andusing individual separated light sources such as rectangular lineararrays of laser diodes or LEDs and further using a LCD device as avariable retarder on the output beam;

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram of a two camera projector method for usewith an illustrative embodiment of a 3-D projector constructed inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 22 is a preferred embodiment of a diagrammatic representation of ahigh resolution or three-dimensional black and white liquid crystal LCLVprojector constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 22A is a diagrammatic representation of a preferred alternateembodiment high resolution or three-dimensional LCLV projectorconstructed in accordance with the invention using a quarter-waveretarder;

FIG. 23 is a schematic illustration of a preferred embodiment of asystem for using a device as a 3-D screen or 3-D viewing cube;

FIG. 24 is a schematic illustration of a preferred embodiment of asystem for producing fluorescent lighting via a flat plate arrangement;

FIG. 24A is a perspective view of the device in FIG. 24;

FIG. 25 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of a system forproducing a linear matrix array of laser diodes for use in FIGS. 8E, 8F,20C & 20D;

FIG. 26 is a table of the characteristics of mirrors used in thisinvention;

FIG. 27 is a preferred embodiment of an illustrative drawing of a systemfor producing a collimated beam of light known as an optical integrator;

FIG. 27A is a preferred embodiment of an illustrative drawing of asingle light pipe of the optical integrator for producing a collimatedbeam of light, and also shows the optical path of light rays through it;

FIG. 27B is a preferred embodiment of an illustrative drawing of afly-eye arrangement of the light pipes in the optical integrator shapedin a rectangular shape and with the light pipes made in a square shape;

FIG. 27C is a preferred embodiment of an illustrative drawing of afly-eye arrangement of the light pipes in the optical integrator shapedin a circular shape and with the light pipes made in a circular shape;and

FIG. 28 is a preferred embodiment of an illustrative drawing of a systemfor producing a collimated beam of light including a light source, afirst and second reflecting means, a light integrator means and acollimating means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For purposes of simplicity, the same number has been used in the variousfigures to identify the same part.

Light Path and Rectangular Beam

Referring now to FIG. 3, a collimated light beam 50 from a light source32 is converted into a unitary polarized beam 30 having across-sectional configuration or shape (see FIG. 5) that matches anouter peripheral cross-sectional configuration or shape of the LCDdisplay 34. As an example, the LCD 34 display is a LCD having a lightaperture of a generally rectangular outer peripheral configuration.

This aspect of the invention includes in an optically aligned path: apolarizing beam splitter 36, a half-wave retarder 38, and an arrangementof a first mirror 40, a second mirror 42, a third mirror 44, and afourth mirror 46, that combine the separate beams exiting from thepolarizing beam splitter 36 into a combined beam of single polarization30 having a cross sectional configuration or shape that matches thecross sectional shape of the LCD display 34. Suitable color filters 48may be placed between the LCD display 34 and the combined beam.

The manner in which the collimated beam 50 is formed is now described.Light source 32 and reflecting optics or means 41 produce an unpolarizedbeam of light 50 which is then collimated by collimation optics, such aslens 43 or light integrator means 63, as shown in FIG. 27.

The light or optical integrator means is made of a plurality of lightpipes such as those shown in FIG. 27A, each light pipe being adjacentand in contact with one or more other light pipes. Each light pipeconsists of a first lens surface 45, a body 75, and a second lenssurface 71. A light source 31 emits rays 73 towards the surface of body75 which is ground to the predetermined shape required. This first lenssurface 45 functions to bend light rays 73 towards a more collimatedalignment one to the other. Body 75 carries the light rays to the secondlens surf ace 71 and has the same index of refraction as the first lenssurface 45 and second lens surface 71. This minimizes the number ofinterfaces the light ray 73 must pass through. Continuing on, light ray73 strikes the second lens surface 71 which is ground to a predeterminedshape, and is again bent more normal; thus, the light rays exitingsurface 71 are substantially collimated. Lens surfaces 45 and 71 may ormay not be of the same shape or form and are dependent upon severalfactors, including, but not limited to, the size of the light source,the shape of the light source, the type of light source, the distancefrom the light source to the first lens surface 45, the length and sizeof body 75, the distance of the integrator second lens surface 71 to thetarget, and other factors known in the trade.

Referring again to FIG. 3, alternately, the light source 32 and itsreflecting optics or means 41 form an unpolarized collimated beam oflight 50. The unpolarized collimated beam of light 50 is split by thepolarizing beam splitter 36 into separate orthogonal polarized beams, aP-polarized beam 52, and an S-polarized beam 54. The P-polarized beampasses through the polarizing beam splitter 36 and is directed onto thefirst mirror 40 and reflected through an angle of 90° as a reflectedbeam 53 and onto the LCD display 34. The S-polarized beam 54 isdeflected by the polarizing beam splitter 36 through an angle of 90° andis passed through the half-wave retarder 38. The half-wave retarder 38changes the orientation of the electric field vector of the S-polarizedbeam 54 to form a second P-polarized beam 56. This second P-polarizedbeam 56 is reflected through an angle of 90° by the second mirror 42.The third mirror 44 and fourth mirror 46 are situated to intercept thereflected second P-polarized beam 56 and split the beam into twoseparate reflected beams 58 and 60 emanating in the same direction asreflected beam 53. The three separate reflected beams 53, 58, and 60 arethen combined (see FIG. 5) into a single beam 30 having a singleorientation of the electric field vector (P-polarized) and is directedthrough suitable color filters 48 to the LCD display 34.

With reference to FIG. 4, each mirror such as first mirror 40, may beconfigured with a preferred geometrical shape such as a generallyrectangular or square (i.e., a square shape is a subset of a rectangularshape) outer peripheral configuration to intercept a generally circularshaped or collimated light beam (i.e. 52) such that the reflected beam(i.e., 53) from the mirror is also of a square or rectangularconfiguration. This arrangement will produce a reflected beam that isgeometrically similar to the sizes and shapes of the mirrors used, asthe geometry of the mirrors will be duplicated by the reflected beams.As shown in FIG. 5, this allows a square-shaped reflected beam 53 from afirst mirror 40, a rectangular shaped reflected beam 60 from fourthmirror 46, and a rectangular shape reflected beam 58 from third mirror44 to be aligned to produce a unitary beam at the LCD display 34 havinga generally rectangular outer peripheral configuration. This rectangularconfiguration of the unitary beam 30 matches the rectangular outerperipheral configuration of the LCD display 34 and in particular to thelight aperture of the LCD display 34.

The method and system for the invention with reference to FIGS. 3 & 4can be summarized as follows: producing an unpolarized collimated beamof light 50 with a light source 32; splitting the unpolarized beam oflight 50 with a polarizing beam splitter 36 into separate orthogonalpolarized beams 52, 54 (i.e., a first P-polarized beam 52 and anS-polarized beam 54); directing a first orthogonal beam 52 (firstP-polarized beam 52) onto a first mirror 40 to produce a first reflectedbeam 53; directing the second orthogonal beam 54 (S-polarized beam 54)through a half-wave retarder 38 in order to convert the direction ofpolarization of the second orthogonal beam 54 (S-polarized beam) tobecome a second reflected beam 56 having the same polarization as thefirst orthogonal beam 52 (a second P-polarized beam); directing thesecond orthogonal beam 56 (second P-polarized beam) onto a second mirror42 and reflecting the beam through an angle of 90°; directing the secondreflected beam 56 onto third and fourth mirrors 44, 46 that reflect thesecond reflected beam 56 through a second 90° angle and split the secondreflected beam 56 into a third reflected beam 58 and a fourth reflectedbeam 60; and combining the separate reflected beams, i.e., firstreflected (P-polarized) beam 53, third reflected (P-polarized) beam 58and fourth reflected (P-polarized) beam 60, into a unitary beam 30 of asingle polarization and having a rectangular outer peripheral shape thatmatches the rectangular outer peripheral shape of an LCD display 34.

Mirrors 40, 42, 44, 46 or other reflecting means are to be aligned tointersect the path of the orthogonal light beams 52, 56 to produce aunitary light beam by the combination of separate reflected beams 53,58, 60 at the LCD display 34. FIG. 3 illustrates just one such alignmentpattern for the mirrors 40, 42, 44, 46 with their planar surfaces. Inthe embodiment illustrated by FIG. 3, third mirror 44 and fourth mirror46 are located on either side of first mirror 40. FIG. 3A illustratesanother possible alignment of the mirrors 40, 44 and 46 to intersect thepath of the orthogonal light beams 52, 56. In the embodiment of FIG. 3A,the third mirror 44 and fourth mirror 46 are both aligned on one side ofthe first mirror 40. However the resultant unitary beam at the LCDdisplay 34 is functionally the same. Arrangements of the mirrors 40, 44,46 other than those shown in FIGS. 3, 3A, & 3C are also possible. Thearrangement of mirrors in FIGS. 3A & 3B are the same. Moreover, themirrors 40, 44, 46 may be shaped and arranged to produce a square shapedbeam at the LCD display 34.

Beam 30 allows substantially of the light produced by the light source32 to be utilized for illuminating the LCD display 34 taking intoconsideration the form factor of the light source as shown in FIG. 4Aand described below. With beam 30, the minimal number of components(i.e., polarizing beam splitter 36, half-wave retarder 38, mirrors 40,42, 44, 46) allow these components to be easily adjusted to achieve aresultant unitary beam at the LCD display 34 that is of the desiredshape and of a single polarization (i.e., single orientation of theelectric field vector). The polarization of the resultant beam in theillustrative embodiments is in a P-polarized direction. Alternately, thebeam 30 can be configured to produce an S-polarized beam at the LCDdisplay 34, or whatever else predetermined polarization direction ischosen.

In addition, the half-wave retarder 38 may be rotated to tune thepolarization of the resultant beam 56 exiting from the half-waveretarder 38 to exactly match the polarization of the first P-polarizedbeam 52 exiting the polarizing beam splitter 36. Additionally, thepositions of the mirrors (40, 42, 44, 46) may be easily adjusted orrearranged to achieve a predetermined resultant beam of a desire outerperipheral configuration at the LCD display 34.

In FIG. 3B, half-wave retardation of the beam is realized by means otherthan the half-wave retarder 38 as used in FIG. 3A. This is accomplishedby reflecting the beam 54 (S-polarized) from the second mirror 42,resulting in a quarter-wave retardation. Each half of the beam is thenreflected from the respective mirrors 44, 46 and further retarded by aquarter-wave. This results in half-wave retardation of S-polarized beam54 changing it into P-polarized-beams 58, 60. The system shown in FIG.3B is preferred to those systems shown in FIGS. 3 & 3A because lesscomponents are required. Such mirrors are available from OCLICorporation, Santa Rosa, Calif. as part numbers 777-QWM001, through777-QWM002.

The mirrors 42, 44, 46 as shown in FIG. 3B can be constructed with acoating formed thereon through thin film coating techniques. Each mirror42, 44, 46 can act as a quarter wave retarder, besides being a broadbandreflector.

Thin film coatings are also referred to as dielectric films, i.e., theyare films made of materials composed of atoms whose electrons are sotightly bound to the atomic nuclei that electric currents are negligibleeven under applied high electric fields. The individual film thicknessesor layers vary over a very broad range, but they are referred to as athin film when the thickness of the film is on the order of thatwavelength. These films are built up in many layers, one on top ofanother, and are referred to as a multilayer thin film, as schematicallyillustrated in FIG. 6. Each layer then reflects the appropriatewavelength or orientation of the electric field vector according to itsindividually designed construction. These layers are typically depositedon top of a receiving substrate by vacuum deposition. This includesvaporizing a material and causing the vapor atoms to strike thesubstrate in a predetermined manner and rate. Some typical materials areMgF₂ SiO₂ Al₂O₃ C (diamond), ZnS, TiO₂, CdS, CdTe, GaAs, Ge, Si, Ag, Au,PbS, along with many other materials.

Because dielectric materials are used, the index of refraction for eachlayer is different from each adjacent layer, although in some cases theymight be the same.

Light is reflected from, and transmitted through each layer (see FIG. 6)and interface. These light wave fields that are transmitted andreflected from each interface interact with one another. Depending uponthe material chosen for the thin film and the optical thickness of thethin film, different results are achieved. A device made in this fashioncan have from one to several hundred film layers on a substrate. In oneinstance, by proper design, a coating can change the phase of incidentlinearly polarized light. In effect, this functions as a relativequarter wave plate. Several papers on this subject have been published,but in particular: “Phase Retardance of Periodic Multilayer Mirrors,”Appl. Opt., 21 (4):733 (1982), Joseph H. Appl, “Graphical Method toDesign internal Reflection Phase Retarders,” Appl. Opt., 23(8):1178(1984), “Mulitlayer Coating Design Achieving a Broadband 90° PhaseShift”, Appl. Opt., 19(16):2688, (1980), William H. Southwell.

In another design, the coating reflects the incident polarized lightwave, and thus reinforces the P-polarized reflection. This designreflects the entire light spectrum and functions as a broadband mirror.

The components of the system producing unitary beam 30 may be fabricatedfrom commercially available parts. Light source 32 can be any suitablelamp such as a short arc lamp, a quartz-halogen lamp, a mercuryvapor/xenon long arc lamp, etc. In general, such lamps efficientlyproduce a high intensity point source of light. They are available invarious sizes and with varying spectral qualities. Suitable commercialembodiments of high brightness light sources (greater than 15,000lumens) are manufactured by many manufacturers, including but notlimited to Optical Radiation Corporation, Azusa, Calif. Other lightsources that produce desired wavelengths and different output lumens(spectra or spectrum distribution) may also be utilized as shown in FIG.9A. Most light sources contain a spectrum of visible, infrared, andultraviolet light that are contained in different proportions respectiveto each other. Lasers can also be used as light sources.

Polarizing beam splitter 36 may be any of the known devices. It may be,for example, composed of a dielectric thin film stack disposed on asuitable substrate (such as glass). The stack may be fabricated byalternating layers of high and low refractive index films each with aquarterwave optical thickness, with the center of the wavelength designfor visible light at approximately 550 nanometers. At each film/filminterface, light is incident at Brewsters angle which transmitsP-polarized light and reflects S-polarized light. The number of layersare dependent upon the final outcome desired, and can be tailored forthe cost/performance tradeoff desired. It may be fashioned in the shapeof a cube of glass with the layers deposited on the diagonal, oralternatively, the multilayers can be deposited on a piece of glass, andoptionally, another piece of glass can then be cemented to the front,forming a sandwich of which the multilayers are deposed in between thetwo pieces of glass. The purpose of this is to protect the layer stackfrom abrasion or contact with the air. The arrangement of a single pieceof glass or two pieces of glass would yield a polarizing beam splitterthat is less costly to produce and weigh less than a cube polarizer.

It is desirable that the light striking the surface of the layers do soat a 45° angle, with a small deviation from the normal of the rays, thusthe incidence angle between the layers and the beam of light should bewell controlled. Such a polarizing beam splitter is described in U.S.Pat. No. 2,403,731 to MacNeille or U.S. Pat. No. 2,449,287 to Flood andis termed a MacNeille polarizer. A commercial embodiment of such apolarizing beam splitter suitable for use herein can be obtained fromthe Perkin Elmer Corporation, Electro-Optical Division, Norwalk, Conn.or OCLI Corporation, Santa Rosa, Calif. A wavelength response for apolarizing beam splitter is shown in FIG. 10.

Typically, such coatings of thin film stacks on the diagonal of thepolarizers and polarizing beam splitters can be coatings capable ofhandling high energy beams such as laser beams. They are capable ofhandling high wattage of incident energy per centimeter squared.

The mirror 40 (OCLI Corporation, Santa Rosa, Calif., part no. 777BEM001)must be selected to be an efficient reflector of the P-polarized lightat the particular wavelength required. Mirrors 42, 44, 46 are selectedto be either quarter wave retarders or broadband reflective mirrors,depending upon how the system is configured. If used as a quarter wavemirror, their part numbers are 777QWM001 and 777-QWM002. if used as abroadband mirror, their part numbers are 777-BBM002 and 777-BBM003.These mirror numbers are available from OCLI Corporation, Santa Rosa,Calif. As an example, the mirrors can be formed of a thin film coatedonto a substrate. The thin film is formed with a broadband coating forvisible light. It is known that metal film mirrors reflect P-polarizedwaves more efficiently than S-polarized waves because of the nature ofmetal reflections. Because of this known efficiency factor, theconversion of S-polarized waves to P-polarized is utilized by thisinvention.

Such thin film mirrors that are acceptable for use herein can beobtained from the OCLI Corporation, Santa Rosa, Calif. Thin filmcoatings are known as laser coatings and are capable of handling highenergy beams (watts divided by centimeters squared).

The half-wave retarder 38 (shown in FIG. 3A) maybe one of a class ofoptical elements known as retarders, which serve to change thepolarization of an incident wave. With a retarder, the light exiting hasthe orientation of the electric field vector lagged in phase behind theinput light by a predetermined amount. Upon emerging from the retarder,the relative phase is different than it was initially and thus thepolarization state (orientation of the electric field vector) isdifferent as well. A retardation plate that introduces a relative phasedifference of 90° is known as a half-wave retarder.

A half-wave retarder can be made from a biaxial crystal material such asmica. Suitable retarders can also be made from sheets of plasticmaterial that have been stretched to align long chain organic molecules,thin film dielectrics (such as that made by OCLI Corporation, SantaRosa, Calif.), LCDs, reflection from mirrors coated with a thin filmdielectric, a combination of a LCD and a mirror coated with a thin filmdielectric, and quartz crystal. The half-wave retarder 38 used in theillustrative embodiment of the invention can preferably be adjusted(i.e., by rotation of the crystal) to exactly match the polarizationstate of a P-polarized light beam 56 exiting the retarder 38 (see FIG.3A) with the P-polarization state of P-polarized light beam 52 exitingthe polarizer cube 36. Other means of changing or converting thepolarization direction of a light beam other than a half-wave retardercan be employed in this application.

By way of example and not limitation, a system and method constructed inaccordance with the invention offers the following results andadvantages over prior art illumination systems: a rectangularsingularity polarized beam is created that will efficiently fill theaperture of an LCD display; and the divergence of the resultant beam atthe LCD display is smaller than with other methods of combination, i.e.,U.S. Pat. No. 4,913,529 to Goldenberg.

Light Projector

Referring now to FIG. 8, a projector constructed in accordance with anillustrative embodiment of the invention is shown. FIG. 8 is labeledwith locative directions illustrating an optic path for convenience sakeonly and does not necessarily resemble what the actual layout may be.Other arrangements of the illustrative components connected in differentoptic paths may also be suitable.

A light source 32 (i.e., a xenon short arc lamp, a quartz-halogen lamp,a mercury vapor/xenon long arm lamp, etc.) emits light which iscollimated into a source beam 50 traveling toward the left that containsa wavelength spectrum of visible, infrared and ultraviolet light. (Mostlight sources contain all of the above wavelengths of light; however,they are contained in different proportions respective to each other.See FIGS. 9 & 9A for different types of light sources). Depending on theapplication, the lamp source can be any suitable means for producing acollimated beam of light. The characteristics of the light source may betailored to a particular application.

The visible region of light that a typical person can see is between 400and 700 nanometers in wavelength (this is well understood and can befound in standard reference books or college level text books (see alsophotopic response curve in FIG. 10). The non-visible wavelengths between200 nanometers to 400 nanometers are named the ultraviolet region andthe non-visible wavelengths between 700 nanometers and 1500 nanometersare named the infrared region.

The infrared wavelength region (greater than 700 nanometers) and theultraviolet wavelength region (less than 400 nanometers) each contributewatts of radiant light energy which are detrimental to the optics of thesystem but does not contribute to normal human eyesight (see photopicresponse curves in FIG. 10). Because of this fact, the collimated sourcebeam 50 from the light source 32 is directed to the left toward mirror33 which is a dichroic/thin film dielectric mirror. Dichroic/thin filmdielectric mirrors are able to function as wavelength filters. Ingeneral, these type of mirrors are constructed to transmit (i.e., passthrough) all light having wavelengths longer (or shorter) than areference wavelength and reflect the non-transmitted light. Thereflective and transmissive characteristics of mirror 33 are shown inFIG. 12.

The light wavelengths less than 700 nanometers which strike the coatingon the front surface are reflected downward (as viewed in FIG. 8) by anangle of 90° toward mirror 35. The infrared portions 141 of the sourcebeam 50 (wavelengths greater than 700 nanometers) are transmittedthrough mirror 33 and strike a beam block absorber shown schematicallyas 161. The beam block absorber 161 can be constructed of a black pieceof aluminum (preferably with fins to radiate the heat, not shown) thatabsorbs the infrared wavelengths from the source beam 50 and re-emitsthe absorbed energy as heat, which can be carried away from the systemand not introduced into the vital components which it might otherwisestrike. Alternately, in place of a black piece of aluminum, othersuitable means for absorbing infrared wavelengths may be utilized.Additionally, suitable means of separating or filtering the infraredcomponent of the source beam 50 other than dichroic/thin film mirror 33may be utilized.

The remaining wavelengths of the source beam 50 resulting in a newsource beam 55 are reflected from mirror 33 downward (as viewed in FIG.8) by an angle of 90° and strike the front surface of mirror 35. As withmirror 33, mirror 35 is formed as a wavelength filter so that thevisible portion (430-700 nanometers in wavelength, see FIG. 13A) of thesource beam 55 resulting in a new source beam 57 is transmitted toward apolarizer cube 36 located in an optic path with mirror 35. Theultraviolet portion 37 of the source beam 55 (wavelengths less than 439nanometers) is reflected by an angle of 90° toward the beam blockabsorber 161 on the left. (The characteristics of the mirrors 33 and 35are outlined in FIGS. 12 & 13. Alternately, in place of dichroic/thinfilm mirror 35 and beam block absorber 161, other means for separatingand absorbing the ultraviolet components of the source beam may beprovided.

The source beam 57 is next directed toward a means 36 for polarizing thesource beam 57 into two orthogonally polarized beams. In theillustrative embodiment in FIG. 8 of the invention, a polarizer cube 36is utilized to separate the source beam 57 into a P-polarized beam 52and an S-polarized beam 54. It should be further understood that when apolarizer cube is mentioned, that a polarizing plate or a piece of glasswith a thin film polarizing coating deposited upon it, or a sandwich ofglass, with the thin film polarizing layers deposed in between theglasses, can also be used for construction of the system.

A suitable polarizer cube 36, in an illustrative embodiment of theinvention, is known in the art as a birefringent polarizer. Inparticular, one useful for this application is called a MacNeillePolarizer and is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,403,731 and 2,449,287,with a general discussion having previously been set forth above.

The polarizer 36, if constructed as a thin film Macneille polarizer, issensitive to ultraviolet and infrared portions of the light spectrumbecause of the thin film coatings; thus, the wavelength filtering bymirrors 33 and 35 that occurs before the beam enters the polarizer cube36 is advantageous. This is because the ultraviolet light causesdegradation of the internal coatings and the infrared light causesexcessive heat buildup in the polarizer 36. The polarizer coatings startto absorb energy below 425 nanometer which will destroy theireffectiveness. (see FIG. 11 for wavelength response of a suitablepolarizer cube 36). The polarizer 36 polarizes the source beam 57 intotwo orthogonally polarized beams, beam 52 and beam 54, of equalcross-sectional areas but with different polarizations. The P-polarizedbeam 52 is propagated straight through to strike mirror 40 where it isdeflected by a 90° angle toward the left. The other polarizationcomponent of the source beam cube 36, the S portion of the source beam,i.e., beam 54, is deflected left through a 450 angle from the diagonalplane of the polarizing coating of the polarizer cube 36. ThisS-polarized beam 54 is converted or changed into a P-polarizationdirection by a suitable polarization converter such as a half-wavepolarization retarder 38, or, alternately, by reflections from coatedmirrors 42, 44, and 46.

A general discussion of half-wave retarder 38 requirements andspecifications or reflections from mirrors 42, 44, 46 have beenpreviously furnished above.

The half-wave retarder 38 thus produces a second P-polarized beam 56.Second P-polarized beam 56 strikes mirror 42 and it is deflected by a90° angle downward where it is deflected toward the left by mirrors 44and 46. Mirrors 40, 42, 44 and 46 are front surfaced broadband mirrorsthat will maintain the P-polarization of the beam. Moreover, thereflective surfaces of these mirrors 40, 42, 44 and 46 can be generallyrectangular in shape such that the beams reflected therefrom are alsogenerally rectangular in shape. This allows a resultant unitarypolarized beam to be formed with a generally rectangular outerperipheral configuration to match the light aperture of an LCD. Theresultant unitary polarized beam 30 is thus doubled in its original sizeand has the same rectangular area of the LCDs that it is going to strikeand is of one state of polarization, that is, a P-polarization.

Alternately, in place of the polarizer cube 36, any other suitable meansfor producing orthogonally polarized beams (52, 54) can be utilized.Additionally, means for converting (or changing) the polarization of oneof the beams 54 other than the half-wave retarder 38 can be provided,such as reflection from coated mirrors 42, 44, 46. Moreover, other meansthan mirrors 40, 42, 44, 46 for combining the polarized beams 52 and 56can be utilized. Finally the mirrors 40, 42, 44 and 46 can be placed inother arrangements for producing a resultant unitary polarized beam 30having a shape that matches the rectangular peripheral shape of an LCDor LCD light aperture.

The rectangular polarized light beam 30 now encounters the coatingsurface of mirror 80 (which functions as a filtering means) where it issplit into two beams 132, 134; beam 132 is deflected upward (as viewedin FIG. 8) at an angle of 90° and beam 134 continues on through 80 tothe left. Deflected beam 132, traveling upward, is a beam containingwavelengths between 600 nanometers and 700 nanometers (the red portionof the visible spectrum) or, alternately, other predetermined portionsof the light spectrum, and of the P-polarization state. At this time,the beam 132 strikes mirror 82 which functions as a second filteringmeans. FIG. 14 illustrates the reflectance characteristics of mirrors 80and 82. As is apparent, these mirrors are selected to reflect the redportion of the visible spectrum and to allow wavelengths of less than600 nanometers or, alternately, other predetermined portions of thelight spectrum to pass through. Mirror 82 further filters the deflectedbeam 132 so that it will match the CIE response needed for a good colorbalance (see FIGS. 10A & 10B). As an example, the mirror curve (FIG. 14)of mirror 82 can be shifted toward the right so that it will passwavelengths below 615 nanometers or, alternately, other predeterminedportions of the light spectrum and cause a deflected beam to appeardeeper red to the human eye. Any “unwanted” wavelengths will passthrough 82 and strike a red beam block 136 while the wanted wavelengthsare deflected at an angle of 90° toward the left where they pass througha first LCD, which is termed as a red LCD 138. Beam block 136 can befabricated in the same manner as beam block absorber 161 previouslydescribed.

The red LCD 138 (as well as a green LCD 140, and a blue LCD 142 tofollow) is of a type that can be caused to change its birefringence,thereby altering the orientation of the electric field vector of lightpassing through it, formed in a checkerboard arrangement with individualpixels 100 (see FIG. 2A). The red LCD 138 is driven by electronics inwhich each cell alters the respective light portion by rotating thevector of the electric field according to the image that is desired tobe displayed (change by “twisting” or rotating the polarization state,see FIG. 2A, by application of a voltage). The resolution of theprojected image will depend upon the number of cells in the LCD. Adisplay of 320 horizontal pixels by 240 vertical pixels will yield adisplay of 76,800 pixels. A typical television set is 115,000 pixels.Thus, the deflected red beam 132, having now passed through the red LCD138, is now an altered red beam 144 comprising a combination ofpolarizations for the individual pixels of a display, each pixel havinga predetermined orientation of electric field vector by the drivingelectronics. As will hereinafter be more fully explained, the amount ofthe rotation in the polarization state for an individual pixel willeventually decide how much of the light for that pixel will be passedall the way through to finally strike the screen used for display. Atthis point, the altered red beam 144 strikes mirror 92 and is deflectedupward at an angle of 90°. The purpose of mirror 92 is to combine thealtered red beam 144 and altered green beam 152 (as viewed in FIG. 8).Mirror 92 thus functions as a combining means. The response curve formirror 92 is shown in FIG. 16. It is best that mirror 92 does not changethe state of polarization of the altered red beam 144 or any other beamstriking it (i.e., altered green beam 152).

The deflected (from mirror 92) altered red beam 144 then continues onthrough mirror 90 which is constructed to pass any wavelengths greaterthan 515 nanometers (see FIG. 17) or, alternately, other predeterminedportions of the light spectrum. The purpose of mirror 90 is to combinethe combined altered red 144 and altered green 152 beams with an alteredblue beam 160. Mirror 90 thus also functions as a combining means. It isbest that mirror 90 does not change the state of polarization(orientation of the electric field vector) of any beam impingent uponit. The altered red beam 144 after passing through mirror 90 willcontinue on to a final polarizer called the polarizer analyzer 146.Polarizer analyzer 146 may also be a polarizer cube constructed as aMacNeille polarizer, or alternatively, as described above, on a singlepiece of glass or sandwiched between two pieces of glass. The vectorcomponent of the individual pixel light beams that is a P orientation ofthe electric field vector will pass through the polarizer analyzer 146into a projection lens 148 and be projected as a part of beam 178 towarda screen (not shown in FIG. 8) according to the magnification of theprojection lens 148. The vector component of the altered red beam 144that is not a P vector component (S-polarization) will be deflected bythe polarizer analyzer 146 toward the left and be absorbed by beam block150. See FIG. 1B for a pictorial illustration showing how a particularvector component is resolved into two components, each having adifferent orientation of the electric field vector. Beam block 150 maybe fabricated in the same manner as beam block absorber 161 previouslydescribed. Thus, the intensity of the red light at the viewing surfaceis directly proportional to the amount of rotation of the altered redbeam's electric field vector.

Returning now to the single state of polarization rectangular light beam30, it encounters the coating of mirror 80 where it is split into twobeams 132, 134. A red beam 132 is deflected upward and the other beam,blue-green beam 134, passes through mirror 80 and continues on to theleft. The blue-green beam 134 traveling through mirror 80 and toward theleft is a beam containing wavelengths between 415 nanometers and 600nanometers (the blue-green portion of the visible spectrum) or,alternately, other predetermined portions of the light spectrum, and ofthe P-polarization state. The response curve for mirror 80 is shown inFIG. 14. Next, the blue-green beam 134 strikes the surface coating ofmirror 84 and the green portion 154 of the beam (500-600 nanometers or,alternately, other predetermined portions of the light spectrum) isdeflected by a 90° angle upward toward the green LCD 140, while the blueportion 156 of the beam (425-500 nanometers or, alternately, otherpredetermined portions of the light spectrum) continues on throughmirror 84 and toward mirror 86 at the left. Mirror 84 functions as afiltering means, and its response curve is shown in FIG. 18.

The green beam 154 passes through the green LCD 140. Each cell altersits respective portion of the green beam by rotating the orientation ofthe vector of the electric field according to the image that is desiredto be displayed. Thus, the altered green beam 152, having now passedthrough the green LCD 140, is an altered green beam 152 comprising of acombination of polarizations for the individual pixels of a display,each pixel having a predetermined orientation of electric field vectorby the driving electronics. The amount of the rotation in thepolarization state for an individual pixel will eventually decide howmuch of the light for that pixel will be passed all the way through thepolarizer analyzer 146 to finally strike the screen (not shown in FIG.8) used for display. At this point, the altered green beam 152 strikesmirror 92. As previously stated, the purpose of mirror 92 is to combinethe altered green beam 152 with the altered red beam 144 (see FIG. 17).The altered green beam 152 passes through mirror 92 and propagatesupwardly. Mirror 92 does not change the state of polarization of thealtered green beam 152 or any other beam (altered red beam 144) strikingit.

The altered green beam 152 then continues on through mirror 90 becausemirror 90 will pass any wavelength greater than 501 nanometers (see FIG.17) or, alternately, other predetermined portions of the light spectrum.As previously stated, the purpose of mirror 90 is to combine the alteredblue beam 160 (see FIG. 16 for response curve of mirror 92) with thecombined, altered beams 144 and 152. It is also preferable that mirror90 does not change the state of polarization of any beam impingent uponor passing through it.

After passing through mirror 90, the altered green beam 152 nowcontinues on through the polarizer analyzer 146. Any portion of thelight of the individual pixels of altered green beam 152 that is of aP-polarized orientation will pass through the polarizer analyzer 146into the projection lens 148 and be projected as part of beam 178 towardthe screen (not shown) according to the magnification of the projectionlens. The vector component of the altered green beam 152 that is not a Pvector component (S component) will be deflected by the polarizeranalyzer 146 toward the left and be absorbed by the beam block 150.Thus, the intensity of the green light at the viewing surface isdirectly proportional to the amount of rotation of the green beam'selectric field vector.

Returning now to the blue-green light beam striking the coating surfaceof mirror 84 where it is split into two beams 154, 156, a green beam 154is deflected upwardly at an angle of 90° and a blue beam 156 continuesthrough mirror 84 to the left. The blue beam 156 traveling through 84toward the left is a beam containing wavelengths between 415 nanometersand 500 nanometers (the blue portion of the visible spectrum) or,alternately, other predetermined portions of the light spectrum, of theP-polarization state. The blue beam 156 continues on toward the left andstrikes the surface coating of mirror 86 (mirror 86 may be a frontsurface broadband mirror; however, it must retain the P state ofpolarization for the blue beam) and the blue beam (415-500 nanometersor, alternately, other predetermined portions of the light spectrum) isdeflected at an angle of 90° upward toward the mirror 88. A waveresponse for mirror 84 is shown in FIG. 15.

At this time, the reflected blue beam 156 from mirror 86 strikes mirror88 for further filtering. Further filtering can be done by mirror 88 onthe blue beam 156 so that it will match the CIE response needed for agood color balance (see FIGS. 10A, 10B). For instance, mirror 88 can beconstructed with a mirror curve as shown in FIG. 18 which is shiftedtoward the left so that it will transmit wavelengths above 495nanometers or, alternately, other predetermined portions of the lightspectrum, and cause the beam to appear deeper blue to the human eye. Any“unwanted” wavelengths will pass through mirror 88 and strike a bluebeam block 158 while the wanted wavelengths are deflected at an angle of90° toward the right where they pass through the blue LCD 142. Blue beamblock 158 may be constructed in the same manner as beam block absorber161 previously described. As before, it is important that mirror 88 doesnot change the state of polarization of the blue beam 156. The blueportion of the blue beam 156 passes through the blue LCD 142. Each cellalters the respective light portion by rotating the vector of theelectric field according to the image that is desired to be displayed.Thus, an altered blue beam 160, having now passed through the blue LCD142, is now an altered blue beam comprising a combination ofpolarizations for the individual pixels of a display, each pixel havinga predetermined orientation of electric field vector by the drivingelectronics. The amount of the rotation in the polarization state for anindividual pixel will eventually decide how much of the light for thatpixel passes all the way through to finally strike the screen (not shownin FIG. 8) used for display. At this point, the altered blue beam 160strikes mirror 90 and is reflected upward at an angle of 90° (as viewedin FIG. 8) for combining with altered red beam 144 and altered greenbeam 152. Mirror 90 will allow any wavelengths less than 500 nanometers,to be reflected (see FIG. 17) or, alternately, other predeterminedportions of the light spectrum. It is important that mirror 90 does notchange the state of polarization of the altered blue beam 160, or anyother beam striking it. The altered blue beam 160 now continues on tothe polarizer analyzer 146. The vector component of the individual pixellight beams that is of a P-polarized component will pass through thepolarizer analyzer 146 into the projection lens 148 and be projected asa part of beam 178 toward the screen according to the magnification ofthe projection lens. The vector component of the altered blue beam 160that is not a P vector component (S vector component) will be deflectedby the polarizer analyzer 146 toward the left and be absorbed by thebeam block 150. Beam block 150 can be fabricated in the same manner asbeam block absorber 161 previously described. Thus, the intensity of theblue light at the viewing surface is directly proportional to the amountof rotation of the blue beam's electric field vector.

At this point, all of the colors of the display (red, green and blue)have passed through the system and the projection lens 148 to beprojected 178 onto the screen (not shown in FIG. 8). They are combinedon top of each other to produce a pixelized image that has the correctcolor balance.

The projection lens 148 is either a single lens or a combination oflenses that produces a good focused image on the screen. It has a backfocal point of the distance equal to the distance from the rear of thelens to each one of the LCDs 138, 140, 142 in the system. This distanceis made the same for all of the three LCDs.

Thus, to focus and align the system, it is necessary to first projectone of the individual colors without the others. When this is done andthe image is focused, then the second color is projected along with thefirst color and the second color LCD is moved spatially to produce asharp image or pixel on top of the first color pixel. The entire imageof the second color is then aligned to the image of the first color tomake a perfect match with regard to size, focus and alignment.

Next, the second color is then turned off or blocked and then the thirdcolor is projected along with the first color and the third color LCD ismoved spatially to produce a sharp image or pixel on top of the firstcolor pixel. The entire image of the third color is then aligned to theimage of the first color to make a perfect match with regard to size,focus and alignment.

The image is then projected as beam 178 with all colors turned on and afinal adjustment can then be made at this time.

The selection of the wavelengths applicable to mirrors 82 and 88 can bejudicially applied so that the color balances of different lamps can beadjusted for color balance of the final output without the redesign ofthe entire optical system (see FIGS. 10A & 10B).

When the image was projected, it was noted unexpectedly that thebrightness of the image was increased as the distance from the projectorlens to the screen increased up to a distance of approximately 10 feet(about 305 cm.). Within this range of approximately 10 feet (about 305cm.), the picture became brighter as it enlarged rather than dimmer ashad occurred in the past. When this phenomena was discovered, it wasnoted that the length of the optical path between the projector lens 148and each of the LCDs 138, 140 and 142 was approximately 13.5 in (about34 cm). The component parts shown in FIG. 8 were arranged in plan viewas shown in FIG. 8 and were encompassed with a rectangle approximately24 inches by 36 inches (about 61 cm. by 92 cm.)

While this phenomenon is not fully understood, it is believed that thisunique effect was due to the polarized nature of the light anddestructive interference of the projected light waves. It is thought atthis time that, when the picture is smaller, more wave nodes interferein a smaller area, thus the light reaching the screen is reduced. As thepicture is enlarged, the wave nodes are spaced further apart and lessinterference occurs. At a certain size, no interference takes place,and, thus, as the distance increases, the picture brightness (asmeasured in lumens/sq. ft. or lumens/sq. meter) then diminishes withgreater enlargement.

It is thought at this time that the reason this phenomena occurs in thisprojector and not in previous projectors is the unitary polarization ofthe projected beam 178. This projector uses the same polarization forthe entire beam path with the same polarizers, with the previousprojectors using individual polarizers for each of the LCDs, of whichdifferent alignment of the electric field vectors occur.

An analysis of the efficiency of the system constructed in accordancewith the invention versus a prior art system that utilizes an absorbingtype of polarizer for illuminating an LCD display is as follows:

With reference to FIG. 8.

EXAMPLE ONE Prior Art Absorbing Type of Polarizer (Kodak or SharpProjector)

lumens of light emitted by the light source=L area of circle oflight=A_(cir)=π·r² area of aperture ofLCD=A_(LCD)=length·width=6d·8d=0.48d²=0.48·(2r)²=0.48·(4r²)=1.92r² (fora 3:4:5 LCD)

% of light impingent upon LCD due to aperture ofLCD=A_(LCD))/A_(CIR)=1.92r²/πr²=61.1%

% of light passed by absorption polarizer=total light %−absorbed%=100%−70%=30%

amount of light impingent upon LCD=light output of lamp·% of lightimpingent upon LCD due to aperture of LCD·% of light passed bypolarizer=L·0.611·0.30

For a lamp that emits 1000 lumens and for a one inch diagonal LCD, thelight coming through an LCD is =1000·0.61·0.30=183 lumens.

This analysis, of course, does not deal with the other inefficiencies ofthe system, such as the second plastic polarizer efficiencies, thecollection efficiency of the lamp, or the transmittance efficiency ofthe LCDs in the system.

EXAMPLE TWO System of the Invention (FIG. 8)

lumens of light emitted by the light source=L

area of circle of light=A_(CIR)=π·r²

area of aperture ofLCD=A_(LCD)=length·width=6d·8d=0.48d²=0.48·(2r)²=0.48·(4r²)=1.92r² (fora 3:4:5 LCD)

% of light impingent upon LCD due to aperture ofLCD=A_(LCD)/A_(CIR)=1.92r²/πr²=61.1% of light passed to LCD=% of lightimpingent upon LCD to aperture ofLCD=A_(LCD)/A_(CIR)=1.92r²/πr²61.1%·efficiency ofpolarization=(0.611·0.97)·100=59%. Therefore, for a lamp that emits 1000lumens and a one inch diagonal LCD, the light coming through an LCD is1000·0.59 or 590 lumens.

This gives an improvement over the prior art system by a factor greaterthan 3.2.

Referring to FIG. 8A, a functional description of FIG. 8 is shown withthe same parts, but with the part numbers removed for clarity. The partsare grouped according to functionality, however other parts can besubstituted, removed, or added according to what is needed to beachieved. FIG. 8A shows the steps involved to achieve a method of thisinvention.

In FIGS. 8 & 8A the light source 32, the reflector 41, the collimatinglens 43, mirror 33, mirror 35 and beam stop 161 work in accordancetogether, as detailed in the description of FIG. 8 above, for producinga beam of light 57 for the projector described.

The initial resolving of the light beam 57 is accomplished when it issent through the polarizing means 36, as detailed in the description ofFIG. 8 above, and initially resolved into two orthogonally polarizedlight beams 52, 54. The initial resolving may also include a retardingof the beam by passing it through a half-wave retarder to produce alight beam 56 which is of the same polarization as that of light beam52.

The forming of the light beam 30 occurs when the two light beams arerespectively reflected from forming means 40, 42, 44, and 46, asdetailed in the description for FIGS. 3, 3A, 3B & 3C above, into asingle beam of light 30 as depicted in FIG. 5. Arrangements of theforming means 40, 44, 46 other than those shown in FIGS. 3, 3A & 3C arealso possible. The arrangement of forming means in FIGS. 3A & 3B are thesame. Moreover, the forming means 40, 44, 46 may be shaped and arrangedto produce a rectangular or square shaped beam, or any other desiredgeometrical shape.

The separating of the beam, as described above for FIG. 8, is achievedby passing this beam through the separating means 80, 84, 86. The formedpolarized light beam 30 encounters the separating means 80 where it isseparated into two beams 132, 134. Deflected beam 132 travels upwardly.The beam 134 strikes separating means 84 where it is separated into twobeams 154, 156. Deflected beam 154 travels upwardly. The beam 156strikes separating means 86 where deflected beam 154 travels toward thetop.

Altering of the separate beams is achieved by passing the beam throughthe LCDs 138, 140, 142 or other suitable altering means, as describedabove for FIG. 8. Each beam passes through its respective LCD. Each cellalters its respective portion of a beam by rotating the orientation ofthe vector of the electric field according to the image that is desiredto be displayed. Thus, an altered beam, having now passed through theLCD, is an altered beam comprising a combination of polarizations forthe individual pixels of a display, each pixel having a predeterminedorientation of electric field vector by the driving electronics. Theamount of the rotation in the polarization state for an individual pixelwill eventually decide how much of the light for that pixel will bepassed all the way through the polarizing means 146 to finally strikethe screen (not shown in FIG. 8A) used for display.

The adjusting of the beams 132, 156 is accomplished by passing the beamthrough the adjusting means or mirrors 82, 88 and the beam stops 136,158. Any “unwanted” wavelengths will pass through mirrors or adjustingmeans 82, 88 and strike beam block 136, 158 while the wanted wavelengthsare deflected at an angle of 90° toward the respective LCD. Beam blocks136, 158 can be fabricated in the same manner as beam block absorber 161previously described above, as detailed in the description of FIG. 8above.

The combining of the beams 144, 152, & 160 is accomplished by passingthe beams through the combining means or mirrors 90, 92. However, thesecombining means can also be used for adjusting if so desired by theirbeam pass/reflection criteria. The altered beam 134 travels throughcombining means or mirror 92, while altered beam 144 is deflected fromcombining means 92, which serves to combine the two beams 144, 152 intoa single beam. It is preferable that combining means 92 does not changethe state of polarization of any beam impingent upon or passing throughit. This combined beam travels through reflecting means 90. It ispreferable that combining means 90 does not change the state ofpolarization of any beam impingent upon or passing through it. Thepurpose of combining means or mirror 90 is to combine the combinedaltered 144 and altered 152 beams with an altered beam 160 into a singlecombined altered beam, as detailed in the description of FIG. 8 above.

After the beams have been combined into a single beam they are directedtoward the resolving means where they are separated into two beams bypassing the beam through the polarizing beam splitter means 146, withthe desired separated beam being passed to the projecting means 148, asdetailed in the description of FIG. 8 above.

The projecting means 148 can be either a single lens or a combination oflenses that produces a good focused image on the screen. It has a backfocal point of the distance equal to the distance from the rear of thelens to each one of the altering means 138, 140, 142 in the system. Thisdistance is made the same for all of the three altering means.

While the description above has been particularly shown and describedwith reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understoodby those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details canbe made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

Referring to FIG. 8B, another alternative embodiment of the color LCLVprojector as taught in FIG. 8 is shown. FIG. 8B is an improvement overU.S. Pat. No. 4,909,601 to Yajima et al., assigned to Seiko Epson Corp.,utilizing the new and novel method and system of a single polarizedlight beam as disclosed herein. The alternate embodiment in FIG. 8Butilizes a different layout of the optical path of the invention. Aspreviously stated in connection with FIG. 8, a polarized white lightbeam 30 is formed for use in the optical system. At this point, thewhite light beam 30 strikes mirror 80 and is divided into two beams, ared beam 132, and a blue-green beam 134. Continuing on with beam 132, itstrikes mirror 82 and is deflected toward the left (as viewed in FIG.8B) and passes through LCD 138. At this time, the orientation of thevector of the electric field is rotated responsive to a control signalinput means (see FIG. 19) forming beam 144. Beam 144 is then deflectedfrom the dichroic beam combiner 93 and, in particular, the dichroicsurface 94 and is reflected upward (as viewed in FIG. 8B) through thepolarizer analyzer 146. At this point, the red beam 144 is segregatedaccording to the P and S vector components, with the P vector passing onthrough the analyzer 146 and the S vector component deflecting to theleft to strike beam stop 150. Returning to beam 134, the blue-green beam134 strikes dichroic mirror 84 and is separated into a green beam 154and a blue beam 156. Green beam 154 is deflected upward (as viewed inFIG. 8B) through the green LCD 140 where it is altered with respect tothe orientation of the electric field vector responsive to a signalinput means (see FIG. 14). The altered green beam 152 enters thedichroic beam combiner 93 and passes through surfaces 94 and 96. Thebeam continues on through into polarizer analyzer 146. The P vectorcomponent passes on through to projection lens 148 with the S vectorcomponent of the beam being diverted to the left and striking beam stop150. Returning now to blue beam 156, it is deflected from mirror 86upward (as viewed in FIG. 8B) where it strikes dichroic mirror 88 and isdeflected to the right and passes through LCD 142. At this point, it hasthe orientation of the electric field vector altered by response to acontrol signal input means (see FIG. 19) and forms blue beam 160. BlueBeam 160 then enters the dichroic beam combiner 93 and is deflectedupwardly (as viewed in FIG. 8B) via surface 96 to enter the polarizeranalyzer 146. At this point, the blue beam 160 is segregated accordingto the P and S vector components that have been formed with the P vectorcomponent of beam 160 passing through the analyzer 146 to projectionlens 148 and the S vector component of beam 160 being deflected to theleft (as viewed in FIG. 8B) to strike beam stop 150.

Referring now to FIG. 8C, an alternative embodiment of FIG. 8 of thecolor LCLV projector is shown. FIG. 8C is an improvement over U.S. Pat.No. 4,864,390 to McKechnie et al., assigned to North American PhilipsCorp., utilizing the new and novel method and system of a singlepolarized light beam as disclosed herein. The alternative embodimentshown in FIG. 8C is functionally the same as that in FIG. 8 with theaddition that the optical path lengths from the LCDs to the light sourceare exactly the same and the optical paths of the LCDs to the beamcombiner and output lens are the same. Operation and function of thissystem is the same as that of FIG. 8. It should be further understoodthat this FIG. 8C can have the optical layout of the LCD path duplicatedand used as the second modulation subsystem to create a beam to inputinto polarizer combiner 146 to form a 3-D projector the same as thatdisclosed in FIGS. 20, 20A & 20B.

Referring now to FIG. 8D, an alternative embodiment of the color LCLVprojector as taught by FIG. 8 is shown. FIG. 8D is an improvement overU.S. Pat. No. 4,850,685 to Kamakura et al., assigned to Seiko EpsonCorp., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,154 to Kiyatake et al., assigned toMatsushita Electric Industrial Co. utilizing the new and novel methodand system of a single polarized light beam as disclosed herein. Thealternative embodiment of FIG. 8D operates and functions exactly thesame as that of FIG. 8 with the exception that the separate dichroicbeam splitters and combiners 80, 82 & 84 have been replaced withcombined beam splitters and combiners 93. In light of the hereindisclosed embodiments, it will now be understood that the splitting andcombining system with respect to the others can be duplicated to createanother beam that would be input into polarizer analyzer 146 to create a3-D projector that functions and operates as those shown in FIGS. 20through 20B inclusive.

In reference to FIG. 8D, as further explanation, the white light sourcebeam 30 strikes the first dichroic color separator 93 and is separatedinto red beam 132, green beam 154 and blue beam 156. Green beam 154 ispassed through green LCD 140 and has its individual portions alteredwith respect to the orientation of the electric field vector responsiveto a control means input forming altered green beam 152. This alteredgreen beam 152 then passes through the beam combiner 93 without havingits orientation of electric field vector changed and is segregated atpolarizer analyzer 146 according to the P component and S component withthe P vector component passing through to the projection lens 148, and Scomponent being rejected upward to beam block 150 where it is absorbed.Returning now to red beam 132, it is deflected from mirror 83 to theleft (as viewed in FIG. 8D) to mirror 82 and then from mirror 82 whereit is deflected downward (as viewed in FIG. 8D) through LCD 138. Passingthrough LCD 138, the beam 132 has its individual portions altered withrespect to the orientation of the electric field vector and formsaltered red beam 144. Altered red beam 144 is then deflected fromsurface 94 to the left (as viewed in FIG. 8D) to polarizer analyzer 146.At this point, altered red beam 144 is segregated according to the P andS components with the P component passing on to projection lens 148 andthe S component being deflected upward (as viewed in FIG. 8D) to beamblock 150. Returning now to beam 132 being deflected from surface 82, itcan be further filtered at this point with the desired wavelengthspassing to the left (as viewed in FIG. 8D) to be absorbed by beam block136. Returning now to blue beam 156 coming out of the first dichroicbeam splitter 93, it is deflected downward (as viewed in FIG. 8D) fromsurface 96 and is deflected to the left (as viewed in FIG. 8D) fromsurface 86. Blue beam 156 is then deflected from mirror 88 upward (asviewed in FIG. 8D) through the blue LCD 142. LCD 142 then functions toalter the individual portions of blue beam 142 by changing theorientation of the electric field vector responsive to a control signalinput means (see FIG. 19) and forms altered blue beam 160. Blue beam 160is then reflected to the left (as viewed in FIG. 8D) from surface 96 andis passed through polarizer analyzer 146. At this point, blue beam 160is resolved into the P and S components with the P component passingthrough to the lens 148 and the S component being deflected upward (asviewed in FIG. 8D) to be absorbed by beam block 150.

Returning now to blue beam 156, when it strikes mirror 88, the desiredfiltering can take place with the unwanted wavelengths of blue beam 156passing to the left (as viewed in FIG. 8D) to be absorbed by beam block158 with the desired wavelengths being deflected upwardly.

Yet another alternative embodiment of a color LCLV projector is shown inFIGS. 8E through 8G. The alternative embodiment in FIG. 8E utilizesindependent light sources 170, 172 & 174 for forming a beam that is usedto alter the orientation of the electric field vector by LCDs 138, 140 &142. These light sources 170, 172 & 174 in FIGS. 8E, 8F may be ofseveral different forms and functions. Such light sources can include amatrix of linear array diodes formed in a rectangular shape, a planarmatrix of solid state lasers, LEDs light emitting diodes, etc., whereasin FIG. 8G, the light sources 170 a, 172 a & 174 a can be a single beamoutput laser beam with an output beam converted into a rectangular shapefor use by LCDs 138, 140 and 142. The light sources form respectively,beams 194, 196 and 198. In FIG. 8E, after each beam has the respectiveportions of their beams altered by the LCDs 138, 140 and 142 changingthe orientation of the electric field vector of the respective portions,the altered beams 144, 152 and 160 are then combined in dichroic beamcombiner means 93 to form a single collinear beam with a plurality ofportions. This collinear beam is then passed to the polarizer analyzer146 where it resolves the respective portions into P and S componentswith the S component being deflected to the left to beam block 150 andthe P component passing through to the projection lens 148 where it isthen displayed on a screen (not shown in FIG. 8E).

Yet another alternative embodiment of the color LCLV projector is shownin FIG. 8F. However, the dichroic beam combiner 93 has been replaced bytwo separate dielectric mirrors 90, 92 that function to combine thethree individual beams into a single collinear beam.

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 8G, the light sources 170 a, 172 a,174 a are single beam output lasers such as are found in a gas type oflaser. The output is converted to a rectangular output. The rest of FIG.8G functions and operates exactly as in FIG. 8E.

By way of example and not limitation, a system and method constructed inaccordance with the invention offers the following results andadvantages over prior art illumination systems for a LCLV projector.

A rectangular singular polarized beam is created that will efficientlyfill the aperture of an LCD display thus maximizing the output of lightfrom an LCD projector.

The divergence of the resultant beam at the LCD display is smaller thanwith other methods of combination, i.e., U.S. Pat. No. 4,913,529.

The system of the invention enables projectors to utilize brighter lightsources for projection, thus enabling the person viewing the projectionto see the projection source in higher ambient light levels.

With the system of the invention, projectors will be brighter andlighter.

With the system of the invention, projectors will consume less energydue to the more efficient light source.

With the system of the invention, television projected on the largerscreen video will be easier to watch.

Method for Producing a High Resolution or 3-D Projected Color Image

With reference to FIG. 19, a schematic flow diagram of a method forproducing a high resolution or 3-D projected color image is shown. Themethod and system for the invention can be summarized as follows:producing a collimated source beam of white light; separating andabsorbing infrared and ultraviolet components from the source beam;polarizing and separating the source beam into two separate orthogonallypolarized beams; changing a polarization direction of one of theorthogonally polarized beams to produce two polarized beams of the sameorientation of the electric field vector and directing each of theseparate polarized beams, respectively, to a left or a right side of theprojector; separating the polarized left side beam and the polarizedright side beam into separate polarized primary color beams (red, green,blue); further filtering the separate polarized primary color beams toprovide a color balance; alter the orientation of the electric fieldvector of the separate polarized primary color beams with separate LCD'seach of which is responsive to separate signal input means; (for 3-Dviewing, the signal input means for the left side corresponds to a lefteye image and the signal input means for the right side corresponds to aright eye image; in either case (3-D or high-resolution), the separateright side and left side signal input means are controlled by suitableelectronic control means 66. It is to be understood that controlelectronics 66 can separate the video signal of HDTV into right and leftvideo signals. As a result, this allows 3-D TV by use of the broadcaststandard for HDTV.]; combining the altered separate polarized primarycolor beams; combining altered left and right side color beams into aunitary altered beam; resolving the combined beams according to the P &S vector components of the altered beams; projecting the unitary alteredbeam onto a viewing screen; (for 3-D viewing, a viewer may wear eyeglasses having lens for viewing a left eye or a right eye imagepolarized in different directions).

Referring now to FIG. 20, a projector constructed in accordance with anillustrative embodiment of the invention is shown. FIG. 20 is labeledwith locative directions illustrating an optic path for convenience sakeonly and does not necessarily resemble what the actual layout may be. Aslong as all of the components are aligned in suitable optic paths withone another, other arrangements of the illustrative components arrangedother than illustrated in FIG. 20 can be utilized.

Referring to the previous section, a source beam 57 is generated forinput to the polarizer cube 36. The polarizer cube 36 separates andpolarizes the source beam 57 into two orthogonally polarized beams, beam52 and beam 54, of equal area and with different polarizations. AP-polarized beam 52L is propagated straight through the polarizer cube36 to enter the left side of the projector. The other polarizationcomponent of the source beam 57, the S-polarized portion of the sourcebeam 57, beam 54, is passed through a half-wave retarder 38 where it isconverted or changed into a beam 52R of P-polarization. Beam 52R is thenpassed into the right side of the projector. Both the left side andright side of the projector thus function with beams 52L and 52R of thesame polarization. Alternately, the projector is constructed to operatewith beams of a different polarization direction, i.e., S-polarized.

Half-wave retarder 38 may be one of a class of optical elements known asretarders, which serve to change the polarization of an incident wave.With a retarder, one component of the P-polarized light is somehowcaused to lag in phase behind the other component by a predeterminedamount. Upon emerging from the retarder 38, the relative phase of thetwo components is different than it was initially and thus thepolarization state is different as well. A retardation plate thatintroduces a relative phase difference of 900 is known as half-waveretarder. Alternately, mirrors may be used to produce a light beam thathas been retarded appropriately.

A general discussion of half-wave retarder 38 requirements andspecifications has been previously discussed above. Additionally, inplace of the polarizer cube 36, any other suitable means for separatingthe source beam 57 and for producing orthogonally polarized beams (52,54) may be utilized.

The left and right sides of the projector, which are enclosed in abroken line in FIG. 20 and labeled as such, will now be described. Theleft side and the right side of the projector include identicalcomponents arranged in identical optical paths. However, the parts havean additional L or R added to distinguish one from the other. Simplystated, both the left and right side include: means (mirrors 80 and 84)for separating a polarized beam of white light (52R or 52L) intoseparate primary color beams, red, green, blue; means in the form ofLCDs 138, 140, 142, for altering the orientation of the electric fieldvector of individual portions of the separate polarized primary colorbeams responsive to separate signal input means controlled by a separateelectronic control means 60 (FIG. 19); and means (mirrors 92, 90) forcombining the altered separate polarized primary color beams.

Two separate beams, beams 62L and 62R, formed by the left side and rightside of the projector, respectively, are combined and segregated a finaltime by a polarization analyzer 146 (combining and segregating means)and projected by a projector lens 148 as a beam 178 onto a viewingscreen (not shown in FIG. 20).

Suitable electronic control means 66 (FIG. 19) control and coordinatethe input signals to the separate left side and right side LCDs (138,140, 142). For 3-D viewing, the electronic control means may beconstructed to provide a visual image to the left side corresponding toa left eye image, and to the right side corresponding to a right eyeimage. Additionally, the left eye image and the right eye image can besuperimposed with one another or timed sequentially. For example, asshown in FIG. 20, locatively, the right side can be moved up or down bymechanical or electrical means (not shown). For a high resolutionprojected image, the control means 66 can be constructed to provide avisual image to the left side which is offset from the visual imageprovided to the right side (i.e., offset by one pixel vertically orhorizontally).

For convenience sake, the identical components of the left side and theright side of the projector are labeled with the same referencenumerals. Left side polarized light beam 52L enters the left side of theprojector and right side polarized light beam 52R enters the right sideof the projector. The operation of the left side is as previouslydescribed in the section on the color projector above and shown in FIG.20. The operation of the right side is the same with the distinction ofdifferent locative directions of the various light beams.

At this point, the beam 62L formed by the left side is transmitted intothe bottom (locative direction only) of the polarizer analyzer 146 andthe beam is segregated according to the P and S components of theelectric field vector. The beam 62R formed by the right side of theprojector is passed into the right side of the polarizer analyzer 146(locative direction only) and is accordingly segregated to the P and Scomponents of the electric field vector. The color beams to be displayed(red, green and blue) have passed through the system and the projectionlens 148 to be projected onto the screen (not shown in FIG. 20); theyare combined or superimposed on each other to produce a pixelized imagethat has the correct color balance. The right side of the projectorfunctions in exactly the same manner with the same components. Beforeentering the polarizer analyzer 146, however, the polarization of rightside beam 62R must be changed by the half-wave retarder 39 so that theright side beam 62R will be deflected by a 90° angle for combinationwith the left side beam 62L.

The projection lens 148 considerations and its proximity to a screenhave been previously discussed above.

FIG. 21 illustrates such a 3-D application of a projector constructed inaccordance with the invention. As shown in FIG. 21, a scene 70 isphotographed with a left side camera 72 and a right side camera 74. Theleft side camera 72 provides an input signal 76 to the left side of theprojector 81, while the right side camera 74 provides an input signal 78to the right side of the projector 81. The electronic control means 66(FIG. 19) may be operated as previously described to provide theseseparate inputs into the projector 81 from the left side input 76 andthe right side input 78. The left side image may be polarized in a firstdirection and the right side image polarized in a different direction.By using viewing glasses 220, an image projected onto a viewing surfaceor screen 87 appears displayed as 3-D to viewers 224. Alternately, thecontrol means 66 is configured to display left side and right sideimages in a timed sequence. This will also produce a 3-D effect with orwithout the use of glasses 220.

The alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 20A is the same as the preferredembodiment of FIG. 20 with the addition of a quarter-wave retarder 188situated in an optic path between the projection lens 148 and thepolarizer analyzer 146. The alternate embodiment projector of FIG. 20Acan be used to provide a projected image which is circularly polarized.This can be used, for example, for providing circularly polarized leftand right side images for use with circularly polarized viewer glasslens for 3-D projection.

Yet another alternate embodiment is shown in FIG. 20B. The alternateembodiment of FIG. 20B is almost the same as the alternate embodiment ofFIG. 20A which added the quarter-wave retarder 188. The embodiment ofFIG. 20B, however, also includes a second polarizer analyzer 190 (onwhich is mounted the half-wave retarder 39 and quarter-wave retarder188) and rejection beam block 192 situated in an optic path betweenright side mirror 90R and polarizer analyzer 146. The second polarizeranalyzer 190 is used to further analyze, segregate and combine thealtered color beams 62R and 62L.

In FIG. 20C (another alternative embodiment of the color LCLV 3-Dprojector), there are now two constituent parts. Each constituent partgenerates a collinear beam as in FIG. 8F. They are then combinedtogether in polarizer analyzer 146 as explained for the diagram and withreference to FIG. 8F. This combination can be of the form where thebeams are combined exactly one on the other with different polarizationsor one beam can be shifted with respect to the other so that theplurality of portions are offset from one another, or the portionsoverlap one another. Also, as explained before, the timing of the beamscan produce beams that are temporally in sync with one another or canalternate between the different fields of the desired information to bedisplayed.

FIG. 20D is the same as FIG. 20C, but with the addition of a quarterwave retarder 188 interposed between lens 148 and analyzer polarizer146. This variable retarder functions to alter the plurality of portionsof the segregated output beam from polarizer analyzer 146 such that eachaltered portion has a different electric field vector orientation. Thuseach altered portion may be displayed on a different plane, such as thatcontained in screen or cube 175 shown in FIG. 23.

Method for Producing A High Resolution or 3-D Projected Black & WhiteImage

Referring now to FIG. 22, an alternate embodiment high resolution or3-D, black and white projector is disclosed. The black and whiteprojector of FIG. 22 includes: a light source means 32 for producing acollimated source beam 50 containing white light; separation andabsorption means in the form of mirrors 33 and 35 and beam blockabsorber 161 for removing and absorbing infrared and ultraviolet raysfrom the source beam 50; polarizing means in the form of a polarizercube 36 for polarizing the source beam into two orthogonal beams, aP-polarized beam 52 and an S-polarized beam 54 with the S-polarized beamdeflected at an angle of 90°; polarization changing means in the form ofa half-wave retarder 38 for changing the direction of polarization ofthe S-polarized beam 54 to a second P-polarized beam 56; a first meansin the form of a first LCD 116 for changing the orientation of theelectric field vector of the first P-polarized beam-52 responsive to aninput image to produce an altered first beam 120; second means in theform of a second LCD 118 for changing the orientation of the electricfield vector of the second P-polarized beam 56 responsive to an inputimage to produce a second altered beam 122; a combining means in theform of a second polarizer cube 146 for combining the first 120 andsecond 122 altered beams; a second orientation of the electric fieldvector changing means in the form of a second half-wave retarder 126located in an optic path between the second LCD 118 and the secondpolarizer cube 146 for converting the direction of polarization of thesecond altered beam 122; projection lens means in the form of aprojection lens 148 for projecting a beam 128 from the second polarizercube 146 as beam 178 onto a display screen (not shown in FIG. 22); andcontrol means (not shown in FIG. 22; but see means 66 in FIG. 19) forproviding and controlling input signals to the LCDs 116, 118.

The black and white projector shown in FIG. 22 functions in the samemanner as the color projector shown in FIG. 20 without the colorseparation and combining as previously described. Moreover illuminationof the LCDs 116, 118 is similar to the method described in previoussections.

As is apparent from the previous description, first LCD 116 and secondLCD 118 may be controlled by control means with an input image toproduce a 3-D effect or a high resolution image as previously described.That is, left eye and right eye corresponding images can be presented orencoded in different polarization states or timed sequentially or both.

Referring now to FIG. 22A, an alternate embodiment of the black andwhite projector shown in FIG. 22 is shown. The alternate embodiment ofFIG. 22A is exactly the same as that of FIG. 22 but with the addition ofa quarter-wave retarder 188 for providing a projected image in the formof a circular polarization beam 129. As previously described, this canbe used with circularly polarized viewer glasses for viewing a 3-Dimage.

Thus, the projector and method of the invention can also be adapted toprovide a high-resolution or 3-D black and white image.

Method for Producing A 3-D Viewing Screen

FIG. 23 is the diagrammatic representation of the buildup of layers of aprojection screen or the formation of a 3-D visualization cube.Referring now to FIG. 23, a new and novel display device is disclosed.The device acts in accordance with a beam generated by a 3-D projectorsuch as disclosed in this document. The orientation of the electricfield vector can be varied by such a device as a variable retarder 188that is placed between the beam polarizer analyzer 146 and the outputlens 148, such as shown in FIGS. 20A, 20B & 20D. This device acts byrotating the orientation of the electric field vector according to thedrive electronics. This output beam is then fed into the device of FIG.23. The device in FIG. 23 comprises a multiplicity of layers, each layerhaving a coating that is different from the successive layer wherebyeach layer is reflective to a particular (or range) orientation of theelectric field vector. For example, layer 200 is reflective to theelectric field vector that corresponds to a vector that has rotationbetween 0° and 5°. Layer 202 is reflective to an electric field vectorthat has an orientation between 5° and 10°. Layer 204 is reflective toan electric field vector that has a rotation between 10° and 15°. Thiswould continue on for the multiplicity of layers that are containedwithin the device in FIG. 23. Thus, when a beam is incident upon thedevice in FIG. 23, the first image plane is on layer 200, the next imageplane is on layer 202, the next image plane on layer 204, etc. The finalimage on the nth plane 216 is then reflected. By having a multiplicityof layers, images are displayed.

An alternate to the above device would replace the reflection on theplanes with ones that would absorb, with the final plane 216transmitting the remaining light.

As an alternative to the step indexes of reflection, a device is usedthat has a graded index of reflection with respect to the electric fieldvector of rotation for each individual plane layer.

Method for Producing a Flat Fluorescent Plate

FIGS. 24 and 24A illustrates an embodiment of a flat fluorescent or neonillumination plate that is used in conjunction with FIGS. 8E, 8F, 20C &20D. A gas, 180, is surrounded by transparent plates 182 and metallicside pieces 176 and end caps 186. A voltage difference, applicable forthe proper gas, is applied between electrodes 201, causing the atoms inthe gas to go into an excited state. By coating the surfaces of thetransparent plates 182 with a material that fluoresces, light will beemitted. Furthermore, a reflecting surface 184 can be applied to furtherreflect all of the light out of one surface. In addition, the uppersurface 182 that light is emitted from can be made or formed like FIG.27, such that the light emitted will be collimated. Also, by choosingdifferent gases, different coatings on the transparent plates 182, anddifferent excitation voltages and currents, the light emitted may be ofdifferent light spectrums (colors and intensities).

Method for Producing Laser Diode Matrix Array

FIG. 25 demonstrates the linear matrix array of individual LEDs or laserdiodes 164 on substrate 166 that could be used for generating acollimated light source for use in FIGS. 8E, 8F, 20C & 20D. Light isemitted from laser diode 164 (or LED) in a collimated beam from itssurface in a single beam. The system is made of a plurality of laserdiodes 164 arranged in an appropriate matrix to line up with the cellsin the LCDs.

Method for Producing a Collimated Beam of Light

FIG. 28 is a preferred embodiment of an optical integrator/lightsource/reflector arrangement that provides a new and novel method ofproviding a collimated light beam with a substantially uniform fluxintensity substantially across the entire beam. The operation of thebasic elements are well known, however the combination of the elementsis novel. The way the device operates is as follows:

(1) light is emitted by the light source 32 in a spherical fashion;

(2) portions of the light emitted from the light source will eithertravel in the forward direction or rearward direction (as viewed in FIG.28) and behave in the manner of one of the following four cases:

(a) strike the first lenses 45 formed on the first ends of the pluralityof light pipes included in the light integrator means 63 as shown bylight path 69 in FIG. 28; or

(b) strike the second concave reflecting means 65 where the light isreflected from and directed back toward the first concave reflectingmeans 41 where it is then reflected from and directed toward the lightintegrator means 63 and strike the first lenses 45 formed on the firstends of the plurality of light pipes included in the light integratormeans 63 as shown by light path 77 in FIG. 28; or

(c) strike the first concave reflecting means 41 and be reflected towardthe light integrator 63 where it strikes the first lenses 45 formed onthe first ends of the plurality of light pipes included in the lightintegrator means 63 as shown by light path 67 in FIG. 28; or

(d) strike the first concave reflecting 41 where it is reflected fromand directed towards the second concave reflecting means 65 where thelight is then reflected and directed back toward the first concavereflecting means 41 where it is reflected and directed toward the lightintegrator 63 to strike the first lenses 45 formed on the first ends ofthe plurality of light pipes included in the light integrator means 63as shown by light path 68 in FIG. 28;

(3) the light striking the first lenses 45 of the plurality of lightpipes will be bent according to the angle of entry and lens formula andtravel through the body 75 of the light pipe and exit the light pipethrough the second lens 71 formed on the second end of the light pipe75; and

(4) the light at this time has substantially uniform flux intensity andcollimation, and travels to lens 43 for further collimation.

The light integrator means is made of a plurality of parallel lightpipes such as those shown in FIG. 27A, each light pipe being [adjacentand] in contact with one or more adjacent light pipes. Each light pipeconsists of a first lens surface 45 formed on a first end thereof, abody 75, and a second lens surface 71 formed on a second end thereof.The first lens surface 45 functions to bend light more towards thenormal. Body 75 carries the light to the second lens surface 71 and hasthe same index of refraction as the first lens surface 45 and secondlens surface 71. This minimizes the number of interfaces the light mustpass through. Continuing on, light strikes the second lens surface 71which is ground to a predetermined shape, and is again bent more normal,thus the light rays exiting surface 71 are substantially collimated.Lens surfaces 45 and 71 may or may not be of the same shape or form andare dependent upon several factors, including, but not exclusive to, thesize of the light source, the shape of the light source, the type oflight source, the distance from the light source to the first lenssurface 45, the length and size of body 75, the distance of theintegrator second lens surf ace 71 to the target, and other factorsknown in the trade.

As shown in FIG. 28, the second concave reflecting means 65 has anopening formed therethrough in which is mounted a light integrator means63. The light integrator means 63 substantially occupies the opening insaid second concave reflecting means 65. The light integrator means 63has an optical axis that is coincident with the optical axis of thesecond concave reflecting means 65. The cross section of the lightintegrator means 63 may be either rectangular, circular, elliptical,octagonal, or any desired shape. The shape of the light integrator meansis dependent upon the final desired shape of the beam formed exitingfrom the integrator.

The first concave reflecting surface means 41 has an optical axis. Thelight means 32 is mounted along said optical axis. The optical axes ofthe first and second concave reflecting means 41 and 65 are coincident.

The system of this invention preferably includes a lens 43 positioned toreceive the light from the second end of the light integrator means 63.The lens 43 further collimates the light beam from the light integratormeans 63.

The first and second concave reflecting means 41 and 65 are preferablyparabolic or elliptical in shape.

The optical light pipes are formed in a fly-eye arrangement injuxtaposition to each other as shown in FIGS. 27, 27B & 27C. The opticallight pipes can be of circular, rectangular, octagonal, or anyconvenient geometrical shape as required by the application intended asshown in FIGS. 27B & 27C.

The light integrator means 63 is well known in prior art, as shown inU.S. Pat. No. 4,918,583 to Kudo et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,769,750 toMatsumoto et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,015 to Konno et al., U.S. Pat. No.4,668,077 to Tanaka. These patents are mainly for forming a uniformintensity across a beam of light or ultraviolet for use in integratedcircuit manufacturing. However the interaction of the light source, thetwo reflecting surfaces and the light integrator is novel. In order tomake the system work properly, the design must take into considerationthe light source and its radiation pattern, the first and secondreflecting means 41 and 65 and the lenses 45, 71 formed respectively onthe first and second surfaces of each light pipe included in the lightintegrator means 63 and the position of the particular individual lightpipe in the matrix of the light integrator means 63. For such analysis,a commercially available computer ray tracing program such as OpticsAnalyst or Genii-Plus available from Genesse Optics Software, Inc., 3136Winton Road South, Rochester, N.Y., 14623 or Beam Two, Beam Three, orBeam Four from Stellar Software, P.O. Box 10183, Berkeley, Ca., 94709can be used in the design of the lens and reflecting means formula forthe shapes needed in regard with the particular light source that ischosen.

Thus, the invention provides a color liquid crystal light valve LCDprojector that produces an image of high brightness, contrast andresolution. Additionally, harmful infrared and ultraviolet rays havebeen removed from the projected image. Moreover, in light of the hereindescribed invention, components of the system can be modified or easilyadjusted to produce a color enhanced image.

At the present time, the overall preferred single embodiment of aprojector constructed in accordance with the invention disclosed hereinis a projector for producing a modulated beam of light suitable forprojection of video images, comprising: means for providing a firstinitial beam of light having randomly changing orientations of theselected component of the electric field vectors; means for integratingthe first initial beam of light to form a second initial beam of lighthaving a substantially uniform flux intensity across substantially theentire second initial beam of light; means for collimating the secondinitial beam of light into an initial collimated beam of light havingrandomly changing orientations of the selected component of the electricfield vectors and a substantially uniform flux intensity acrosssubstantially the entire second initial beam of light; means forremoving from the initial collimated beam of light at least a portion ofultraviolet and infrared to produce an initial collimated beam of whitelight and directing the removed portions to a beam stop whereby theremoved portion is absorbed; means for resolving from the initialcollimated beam of white light an initial collimated first resolved beamof white light having substantially a first single selectedpredetermined orientation of a chosen component of the electric fieldvectors and an initial collimated second resolved beam of white lighthaving substantially a second single selected predetermined orientationof a chosen component of the electric field vectors, whereby the firstand second single selected predetermined orientation of the chosencomponent of the electric field vectors are different from one another;means for forming from the initial collimated first resolved beam ofwhite light and initial collimated second resolved beam of white light asubstantially collimated rectangular initial single beam of white lighthaving substantially the same single selected predetermined orientationof a chosen component of the electric field vectors across substantiallythe entire beam of light and a substantially uniform flux intensityacross substantially the entire initial collimated single beam of whitelight; means for separating the collimated rectangular initial singlebeam of white light into two or more separate collimated rectangularbeams of color whereby each of the separate collimated rectangular beamof color has the same single selected predetermined orientation of achosen component of the electric field vectors as that of the otherseparate collimated rectangular beams of colors and each separatecollimated rectangular beam of color having a different color from theother separate collimated rectangular beams of colors; means foradjusting the color by removing at least a predetermined portion ofcolor of at least one of the separate collimated rectangular beam ofcolors and directing the removed portion to a beam stop whereby theremoved portion is absorbed; means for altering the single selectedpredetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric fieldvectors of a plurality of portions of each separate collimatedrectangular beam of color by passing a plurality of portions of eachseparate collimated rectangular beam of color through a respective oneof a plurality of altering means whereby the single selectedpredetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric fieldvectors of the plurality of portions of each separate beam of color isaltered in response to a stimulus means by applying a signal means tothe stimulus means in a predetermined manner as the plurality ofportions of each of the substantially collimated separate beams ofelectromagnetic energy passes through the respective one of theplurality of altering the single selected predetermined orientation of achosen component of the electric field vectors; means for combining thealtered separate collimated rectangular beams of color into a singlecollimated rectangular collinear color beam without substantiallychanging the altered selected predetermined orientation of the chosencomponent of the electric field vectors of the plurality of portions ofeach separate collimated rectangular beam of color, means for resolvingfrom the single collimated rectangular collinear color beam a firstcollimated rectangular resolved color beam having substantially a firstsingle selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of theelectric field vectors and second collimated rectangular resolved colorbeam having substantially a second single selected predeterminedorientation of a chosen component of the electric field vectors, wherebythe first and second single selected predetermined orientation of thechosen component of the electric field vectors are different from oneanother; and means for passing one of the first collimated rectangularor second collimated rectangular resolved color beam to a projectionmeans.

In light of the previous discussions and further in the description andclaims, it will become apparent that the following partial list of theadvantages of the invention is:

high brightness is easily achieved: brightness is limited only by theLCD characteristics, and brightness is not changed by the reflection ofany of the light paths back into the light source, brightness can beeasily modified by changing light sources;

improved efficiency means lower heat: a high efficiency optical path isutilized and the only significant heating in the optics is due to LCDabsorption;

modifications are simple: optics can accommodate any intensity andvariety of LCDs;

a unique light path provides a rectangular beam: less ghosting, no lightis returned to the light source, better polarization control, highcontrast ratios, more compact projector, more easily manufactured,refuses or eliminates light diffraction, no deterioration of thepolarizers;

longevity: longer life polarizers, the components are exposed to lessheat;

increased resolution/brightness: not resolution limited, improvedresolution with increased brightness;

materials: uses transmissive (non-reflective) LCDs, polarizers do notabsorb light, reduces the number of imaging objects, reduced amount ofcritical imaging objects;

registration of pixels: provides a collinear output beam with no angulardifference between pixels;

color resolution and registration is easily adjusted;

three-dimensional capability can be obtained with the same type ofcomponents at little additional cost;

other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention willbecome more apparent as the description proceeds.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details can bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

1. A system for producing a beam of light having substantially similarpolarization across the beam, comprising: (a) a beam splitter configuredto separate a first beam of light into a first separated beam having afirst polarization and a second separated beam having a secondpolarization, wherein said first and second polarizations are differentfrom each other; (b) a polarization converter, attached to said beamsplitting element, configured to: intercept said first separated beam;and convert said first polarization of said first separated beam to saidsecond polarization by directing said first separated beam in a singlepass through said polarization converter; (c) a reflector configured toredirect at least one of said converted first separated beam and saidsecond separated beam to be substantially aligned with another of saidconverted first separated beam and said second separated beam, therebyforming a second beam of light having substantially similar polarizationacross the beam of light; (d) means for producing, from at least saidsecond beam of light, a plurality of substantially collimated beams oflight; (e) means for absorbing a portion of electromagnetic energy,prior to means for altering in (f), of at least one of the plurality ofsubstantially collimated beams of light, wherein the portion beingabsorbed is dependent upon the wavelength of the at least one beam; (f)means for altering the polarization of a plurality of portions of eachof the separate substantially collimated beams of light; and (g) meansfor combining and resolving the altered beams into a single collinearbeam of light.
 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a beamshaper configured to shape said first beam of light into a substantiallyrectangular shape.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein said beam shaperincludes at least one lens.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein saidpolarization converter includes a half-wave retarder.
 5. The system ofclaim 1, wherein said reflector includes a mirror.
 6. A system forproducing a beam of light having substantially similar polarizationacross the beam, comprising: (a) means for providing a first beam oflight; (b) means for separating said first beam of light into a firstseparated beam having a first polarization and a second separated beamhaving a second polarization, wherein said first and secondpolarizations are different from each other; (c) means for convertingsaid first polarization of said first separated beam to said secondpolarization by directing said first separated beam in a single passthrough said means for converting, said means for convertingpolarization being attached to said means for separating said first beamof light; (d) means for redirecting at least one of said converted firstseparated beam and said second separated beam to be substantiallyaligned with another of said converted first separated beam and saidsecond separated beam, thereby forming a second beam of light havingsubstantially similar polarization across the beam of light; (e) meansfor producing, from at least said second beam of light, a plurality ofsubstantially collimated beams of light; (f) means for absorbing aportion of electromagnetic energy, prior to means for altering in (g),of at least one of the plurality of substantially collimated beams oflight, wherein the portion being absorbed is dependent upon thewavelength of the at least one beam; (g) means for altering thepolarization of a plurality of portions of each of the separatesubstantially collimated beams of light; and (h) means for combining andresolving the altered beams into a single collinear beam of light.
 7. Amethod for producing a beam of light having substantially similarpolarization across the beam, comprising: (a) separating a first beam oflight into a first separated beam having a first polarization and asecond separated beam having a second polarization, wherein said firstand second polarizations are different from each other; (b) interceptingsaid first separated beam by a polarization converter attached to a beamsplitter; (c) converting said first polarization of said first separatedbeam to substantially said second polarization by directing said firstseparated beam in a single pass through said polarization converter; and(d) redirecting at least one of said converted first separated beam andsaid second separated beam to be substantially aligned with another ofsaid converted first separated beam and said second separated beam,thereby forming a second beam of light having substantially similarpolarization across the beam of light; (e) producing, from at least saidsecond beam of light, a plurality of substantially collimated beams oflight; (f) absorbing a portion of electromagnetic energy, prior toaltering in (g), of at least one of the plurality of substantiallycollimated beams of light, wherein the portion being absorbed isdependent upon the wavelength of the at least one beam; (g) altering thepolarization of a plurality of portions of each of the separatesubstantially collimated beams of light; and (h) combining and resolvingthe altered beams into a single collinear beam of light.
 8. The methodof claim 7, further comprising shaping said first beam of light into arectangular shape.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein said polarizationconverter includes a half-wave retarder.
 10. The method of claim 7,wherein said redirecting includes reflecting by at least one mirror.